BIOLOGY 1M03 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Hox Gene, Even-Toed Ungulate, Homeobox
Document Summary
Similar function: other species closely related to fruit flies and humans also have hox gene with these features, homology is something that is similar amongst species because they inherit this trait from a common ancestor. It occurs when traits are similar due to shared ancestry: homoplasy, occurs when traits are similar for reasons other than common ancestry, similar traits can evolve independently in two distant species, eg. Birds and bats: bird and bat wings are not homologous even though the bones are homologous, convergent evolution, occurs when natural selection favours similar solutions to the problems posed by a similar way of life. Is a common cause of homoplasy: eg. Cryptic species: many species are not easily distinguishable by morphology, animal and plant parts also are sometimes not easily identified, most diverse parts of the world are also the least known.