Question

Discuss the difference between homology and homoplasy.

(B) If you are interested in estimating evolutionary relationships of organisms would you want to use homologous or homoplasious traits? Explain your reasoning.

(C) Homoplasy often results from convergent evolution, where similar traits evolve in distantly related organisms due to similar environmental conditions. The image below shows this phenomenon at the molecular level. Briefly discuss this image and how convergence can lead to incorrect estimates of evolutionary relationships.

Answer 1

A). The difference between homology and homoplasy are of the following:

Homology	Homoplasy
It is the similarity between two or more species that are from a common ancestor.	It is the shared difference between two or more species that didnot share a common ancestor.
It is results from divergent evolution	It results from convergent evolution.
Similar basic structure	Different basic structure.
Eg. Vertebrate limbs	Eg. Wings of birds , bats ,etc

B). The eatimation of the evolutionary relationship of an organism is an important factor of homologous traits. Rhe dissimar organs such as the eyes of insects , vertebrates and cephalopod mulluscs, have evolved seperately which are controlled by specific and similar genes.

C). Convergence can leads to the incorrect estimation of evolutionary relationships. One of the most common example of convergent evolution is that very similar nature is that very similar character of the flight /wings of insects birds, petrosarus and bats . All of these have same function and also are similar in structure but they have evolved independently.