APERIMA.

Study of Flash
11) Showing Examples
of Homologous and
Cards/Models

Analogous Organs
INTRODUCTiON
1. Charles Darwin defined evolution as descent with modification. According to him organic
evolution is a process of gradual change occurring in the successive generations.
2. He stated that complex organisms evolved from simpler forms through continuous variations.
3. Thus, evolution is an orderly change from one form toanother.
4. Life on earth is extremely diverse. Inspite of great diversity different typesof organisms exhibit
some common characters.
5. For example fishes have fins for swimming in water, birds have wings for flying, amphibians,
reptiles and mammals have limbs for locomotion on land.
6. A close observation reveals that the limbs, fins and wings are formed on the same structural
plan.
7. All such examples can be explained, if we consider that diverse group of organisms share a
common ancestor from which they have diversed and formed different species.
8. The idea of evolution from common ancestors is reinforced when certain
morphological and
anatomical structures of different organisms are compared.

EXPERIMENT 11.1
AIM: Study ofhonnolugvs "odels o
them.

Homotogous Organs
1. Theorgans which have the same fundamental structure but are different in functions are called
homologous organs.
2. hese organs follow the same basic plan of organisation during their development,but in the
adult condition these organs are modified to perform different functions as an adaptation to
different environments.
3. The homologous organs are a result of divergent evolution.
4. Homology indicates common ancestory.
Experiment forSpotting 81

1. Vertebrate Forelimbs
The forelimbs of man, cheetah,whale and bat have the same basic structural plan. In each case
theforelimb consists of humerus, radius-ulna, carpals, metacarpals and digits.
The skeletal parts of the forelimbs of these vertebrates are similar in structure and arrangenent,
but the forelimbs of these animals have different shapes and functions.
3. Inman they are used for grasping, in cheetah for running, in whale for swimming and in bat
for flying

Cheetah Whale Bat

Man

-Humerus

-Ulna
-Radius
Carpals
Metacarpals
1 5
Phalanges
23 4
Fig. 11.1. Homologous organs- vertebrate forelimbs.

2. Thorns of Bougainvillea and tendrils of cucurbits

lth plants,thorns of Bougainvillea and tendrils of Passiflora or cucurbits are homologous organs.
2 They look different and perform different functions, but both arise in axillary position and are
modified branches.

Thorn

Tendrils

H Bougainvillea Cucurbita

Fig. 11.2. Homologous structures. Thorns and tendrils in plants.

82
Comprehensiue Laboratory Manual in Biology-x
3. Leavesof different plants
The leaves of higher plants arise from nodes and possess axillary buds.
In forms they may be simple (e.g. Hibiscus) or compound (e.g. Rose), reduced to scales (e.g.
asparagus), modified into spine (e.g. barberry) for protection, and tendrils (e.g. wild pea) for
climbing.
3.The modifications indicated the evolution of the organ to suit different functions.
Lamina

Axillary Bud

Leaflets
Stipules
(A) (B)

Leaf
Tendril

Leafy Branched
Stipules Leaf Spine

Leaves of
Axillary Shoot

(C)
(D)
Fig. 11.3. Homologous organs A, typical simple leaf; B, pinnate
C, leaf tendril of Wild Pea; D, leaf spine of compound leaf (Rose);
Barberry.
Analogous Organs
1, The organs which have similar
functions, but are
different in their structural details and origin
are talled analogous organs.
The analogous organs are the result of convergent
evolution.
Experiment for Spotting 83

1. Wings of insects and wings of bird

, l The wings of insects and the wings of a birds are analogous organs.
2 Both these organsare used for flying in the air, but they are very different in structure.
3. An insect wing is an extension of the integument, where as the wings of a bird are modified
forelimbs covered with flesh, skin and feathers.
4 The superficial similarity of these organs is due to adaptation to flying rather to inheritance
from
a common ancestor.
For Wing

Carpometacarpus
Carpals
Ulna Feathers
Radius

Hind Wing Humerus

(A) Insect Wings (B) Bird Wings
Fig. 11.4. The wings of an insect are analogous to wings of bird.

2. Tendrils of different origin in plants \c!

1. he plant tendrils are meant for climbing.
2 They can be derived from stem branches (e.g. Passiflora) or leaves (e.g. pea)
3. These tendrils are thus analogous organs.
The presence of analogous organs indicate a similar adaptation by unrelated groups through
modification or evolution of different parts.
5 Itis called convergent evolution.

Leaflet
Tendril

Stem
Tendril

(A) (B)
Fig. 11.5. Analogous Organs. Tendrils of different origin. A, stem tendrils of Passiflora; B. leaf tendrils of
Pisum sativum.