Question

The human hand, cat paw, and the horse foot, when studied in detail show the same structure of bones and point towards a common origin.
a) What do you conclude from this?

b) What is the term given to such structures?

Answer 1

a) Same basic structure of human hand, cat paw and the horse foot indicate that these structures have same embryonic origin. These structures show divergence which occurs when same basic organ modifies itself according to different environmental conditions it is facing.

b) Such structures are called homologous structures. The same basic organ becomes specialised to perform different functions and give rise to homologous organs.