Question

Forelimbs of whales, bats, humans, and cheetah are examples of which of the following processes?
a. Divergent evolution
b. Convergent evolution
c. Adaptation
d. Saltation

Answer 1

Hint: Homologous structure of the organs or any other skeletal elements are the organs which have basic structural design and origin, but they have different in function, similarly the forelimbs of whales, bats and humans and cheetah are considered as homologous organs.

Complete answer:
- Homology is simply explained like, development of the different species of the organisms, based on the descent of the common evolutionary ancestors.
- Homology is different, from analogy, wherein homology the similarity of a structure is based on origin, while in analogy the similarity of the structure is based on similarities of use.
- Serially homologous is the formation of structures that look similar, but they develop they have a different function, example for this is bat wings and whales flipper.
- It is believed that homologous structures arise from divergent evolution while analogous structures from convergent evolution.
- There are again many reasons for the animals to undergo divergent evolution, like it may be the presence or absence of predators, changes in the environment, etc.

So the above-given process such as the forelimbs of bats, whales, and humans, and the cheetah is coming under divergent evolution, and it is the correct option.

When goes to other options, convergent evolution, which commonly seen in analogous structures and if the organisms are better able to live in their habitats are said to be adaptation and Saltation is a sudden mutation, which may cause variations, so these all are evolutionary changes but these all are wrong answers for the above-given question.

Hence, the correct answer is option (A).

Note: Other than the Divergent and convergent evolution, there is another type of evolution called molecular evolution, in which there is a change in the sequence composition of cellular molecules such as DNA, RNA, and proteins, etc. Across the generations.