Analogous and homologous organs make it possible to know the evolutionary history of organisms. Homology concerns ancestry, and analogy concerns convergent evolution.
Homologous organs are those that may or may not perform the same function, but have the same basic structure and the same embryonic development. This means, therefore, that individuals who have these organs have shared ancestry.
As an example of homology, we can cite the members of tetrapods. Analyzing the limbs of
We noticed that the number and arrangement of bones are quite similar, which shows us the kinship relationship present there. In this case, we have a similar structure, but with different functions, which reflect different lifestyles.
Analogous organs, in turn, do not reflect ancestral relationships and concern only similar functions. These similarities occur due to convergent evolution, which leads to the emergence of similar characteristics even in individuals from very different groups. This is due to the fact that these characteristics favored survival in similar environments, representing, therefore, adaptations to the environment.
As an example of analogies, we can mention the wings of
These animals have wings that guarantee their flight, however, the structures are quite different. Therefore, the functions are similar, but they do not have the same embryonic origin, nor do they indicate ancestry.
Scientists, when analyzing living beings, have verified, with a certain frequency, structures that make us believe in some common ancestry and in the process of evolution. However, these characteristics do not always reflect the evolutionary relationships between organisms. with this, the theses of analogy and homology were developed.
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