NAEP Science Grade 12

Category - Biology

Which of the following pairs is a result of convergent evolution?
  1. A turtle's egg and a frog's egg.
  2. A bird's wing and a bat's wing.
  3. A housefly's leg and a bee's leg.
  4. A human hand and a monkey hand.
Explanation
Correct Response: B. Convergent evolution is the process followed by organisms that are not closely related but that independently evolved similar traits or structures as a result of having to adapt to similar environments or niches. Of these pairs, only the bird's wing and the bat's wing fit this description. Progressive evolution led to the amniotic turtle egg (A), which evolved as organisms evolved into land organisms and which prevents the embryo from drying out and is laid on land. The frog egg is anamniotic and needs to be laid in water to prevent the embryo from drying out. A housefly and a bee (C) are both arthropods that have characteristic jointed legs. Through progressive evolution, arthropods developed the characteristic jointed appendages. The type of evolution for the human hand and the monkey hand (D) is more divergent because humans and monkeys have a common ancestor and the hands of each have developed differently for different purposes.
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