Homologous and Analogous

Question

Which ones are homologous and which ones are analogous? Please help.

human hand/bat wing

bat wing/bird wing

shark fin/dolphin fin

human hand/dog paw

Answer 1

First, let's start with a definition of the terms: homologous and analogous. Both terms refer to a common structures in different organisms, however the difference is in ancestry. In homologous structures, the organisms to share a common ancestry. In analogous structures, the organisms do not share a common ancestry. So the we will ask this question for all of the pairs.

1.) Human hand/ bat wing - Yes. Both humans and bats share a common ancestry since both are mammals. This is an example of a homologous structure.

2.) Bat wing/ bird wing - No. These two organisms do not share a common ancestry. Bats belong to the class mammalia and birds belong to the class Aves.Therefore, this is an example of an analogous

structure.

3.) Shark fin/ dolphin fin - No. A dolphin is categorized as being in the class mammalia while a shark is a member of the chondrichthyes . Therefore, this is an example of an analogous structure.

4.) Human hand/ dog paw - Yes. Both humans and dogs belong to the class mammalia. This is an example of a homologous structure.