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Question:

(a) Select the homologous structures from the combinations given below. (i) Forelimbs of whales and bats (ii) Tuber of potato and sweet potato (iii) Eyes of octopus and mammals (iv) Thorns of Bougainvillea and tendrils of Cucurbita (b) State the kind of evolution they represent.

Solution:

(a) From the given combinations, (iii) and (iv) represent a pair of homologous structures whereas (i) and (ii) represent analogous structures. (b) Homologous structures represent divergent evolution which means the kind of evolution which takes place from a single evolutionary lineage.