Embryology & Vestigial Organs as Evidence of Evolution

Question 1

What is embryology?

Answer 1

• the study of embryos of various organisms

Question 2

What evidence supports the idea that all organisms come from a common ancestor regarding embryology?

Answer 2

• the fact that in vertebrates it is quite difficult to tell the difference between the early embryos of a fish, bird, pig or human

Question 3

What are vestigial organs?

Answer 3

• structures or organs that seem to be stunted and have no function

Question 4

How are vestigial organs evidence of evolution?

Answer 4

• vestigial organs are often homologous to organs that are useful in other species
• organisms having vestigial structures must have shared a common ancestry with organisms in which the homologous structure is functional

Question 5

What are some examples of vestigial structures in humans?

Answer 5

• the tailbone
• the appendix