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Figure 13 shows the pentadactyl limb of a bat and a cat - Edexcel - GCSE Biology - Question 7 - 2018 - Paper 1
Question 7
Figure 13 shows the pentadactyl limb of a bat and a cat. (i) Describe the reasons why the anatomy of the pentadactyl limb suggests that bats and cats evolved from a... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Figure 13 shows the pentadactyl limb of a bat and a cat - Edexcel - GCSE Biology - Question 7 - 2018 - Paper 1
Step 1
Describe the reasons why the anatomy of the pentadactyl limb suggests that bats and cats evolved from a common ancestor.
Answer
The pentadactyl limb structure of both bats and cats indicates they share a common ancestor due to the similarity in the bone structure. Both limbs have similar bones, suggesting that they derived from an evolutionary ancestor that had the same limb pattern. Additionally, this structural similarity implies that it is unlikely for such bone arrangement to have evolved independently in both species.
Step 2
Genetic analysis also provides evidence for evolution.
Answer
Genetic analysis provides insights by allowing scientists to compare the sequences of genes from different organisms. Closely related organisms exhibit more similarities in their genetic sequences, which supports the idea of shared evolutionary history. For instance, bats and cats are both mammals and display significant genetic similarities, further indicating their common ancestry.