The term homoplasy is most applicable to which of the following features?
A) the legless condition found in various lineages of extant lizards
B) the five-digit condition of human hands and bat wings
C) the β hemoglobin genes of mice and of humans
D) the fur that covers Australian moles and North American moles
E) the bones of bat forelimbs and the bones of bird forelimbs

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Homoplasy refers to the occurrence of similar features in different lineages of organisms that are the result of convergent evolution, parallel evolution, or evolutionary reversal. The legless condition in various lineages of lizards is an example of convergent evolution, where similar adaptations evolve independently in different lineages.

The Term Homoplasy Is Most Applicable to Which of the Following