The bones of forelimbs of whale, bat, cheetah and man are similar in structure, because.

Options

A. one organism has given rise to another
B. they share a common ancestor
C. they perform the same function
D. they have biochemical similarities

Answer

To solve the question regarding why the bones of the forelimbs of a whale, bat, cheetah, and man are similar in structure, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding the Concept of Homologous Structures**:
- The bones of the forelimbs in different species can be classified as homologous structures. Homologous structures are those that have a similar anatomical structure but may serve different functions in different species.

2. **Identifying the Species**:
- The species in question are the whale, bat, cheetah, and man. Each of these organisms has forelimbs that are adapted for different purposes:
- Whale: swimming
- Bat: flying
- Cheetah: running
- Man: walking

3. **Common Ancestry**:
- The similarity in the structure of these forelimbs indicates that these species share a common ancestor. This means that at some point in evolutionary history, these species diverged from a common lineage, leading to the development of different functions while retaining similar structural features.

4. **Differentiating Between Homologous and Analogous Structures**:
- It is important to differentiate between homologous and analogous structures. While homologous structures arise from a common ancestor and have different functions, analogous structures arise independently in different species and serve similar functions but do not share a common ancestor.

5. **Conclusion**:
- Therefore, the bones of the forelimbs of the whale, bat, cheetah, and man are similar in structure because they are homologous organs that share a common ancestor, despite their different functions.

### Final Answer:
The bones of the forelimbs of the whale, bat, cheetah, and man are similar in structure because they are homologous organs that share a common ancestor.

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