Imagine that a scientist discovers a new, flying species of mammal that resembles a winged rabbit. What can the scientist say about this organism?
A)Without any further information, the scientist can say that bat wings and the wings of this new species are homologous.
B)If molecular sequence data show that bats and this new species share a common ancestor not shared by other mammals, the wings of these two species would be considered homologous.
C)If molecular sequence data show that bats and this new species do not share a common ancestor not shared by other mammals, the wings of bats and this new species would be considered homologous.
D)If molecular sequence data show that bats and this new species share a common ancestor not shared by other mammals, the wings of these two species would be considered analogous.
E)No data could support or disprove the hypothesis that the wings of bats and the new species are homologous.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The question is asking what the scientist can say about the organism based on its resemblance to a winged rabbit. Option A assumes that the wings are homologous without any evidence and is therefore incorrect. Option C does not make sense grammatically as it states that if molecular sequence data show that bats and the new species do not share a common ancestor, then their wings would be homologous, which is not correct. Option D is partially correct, as if molecular sequence data show that bats and the new species share a common ancestor not shared by other mammals, then their wings would be considered analogous (similar function, different structure). However, the question specifically asks about homology (similar structure, different function), so option B is the best choice. Option E is incorrect, as molecular sequence data could support or disprove the hypothesis that the wings of bats and the new species are homologous.

Imagine That a Scientist Discovers a New, Flying Species of Mammal