EvolutionLesson 2 of 3 in the course Evidence for evolution and common descent

Vestigiality: Evolutionary Evidence, Function, and Examples

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

Vestigiality describes how inherited features can persist after losing some or all of the functions they had in ancestors. This lesson introduces the concept and explains how natural selection, changing environments, and comparison with related species help us recognize vestigial features.

A vestigial feature is a genetically determined structure, behavior, or physiological or biochemical attribute retained from ancestors despite having lost some or all of its ancestral function. Vestigial structures are sometimes called rudimentary, atrophied, or degenerate structures. The term is not limited to organs: a vestigial feature can occur in behavior or at the molecular level.

All flashcards

Vestigiality
Persistence of an inherited feature after it loses some or all of its ancestral function.
Homologous features
Features that share an evolutionary origin, even if their present-day roles differ.
Exaptation
Modification or co-option of a structure for a function different from its earlier one.
Pseudogene
A gene remnant that has lost an ancestral coding or expression function.
Skeuomorph
A designed feature that imitates or refers to an older form.

Quiz questions

  1. What is exaptation?Answer: Co-opting or modifying a structure for a function different from its earlier one.
  2. Penguin wings no longer enable flight but aid underwater movement. Which interpretation fits?Answer: They are vestigial for flight and exapted for swimming.
  3. What is a pseudogene in the context of evolutionary vestiges?Answer: An inactive remnant of a gene that had an ancestral function.
  4. Why is noncoding DNA not automatically considered vestigial?Answer: Some noncoding sequences have roles, and others may lack evidence of a formerly functional ancestor.
  5. What limited role can pelvic remnants in boas and pythons have?Answer: They may assist during copulation.

Based on the Wikipedia article Vestigiality, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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