Tubato, Aza Freya Lan A.

BS Biology

Assignment #1

1. Differentiate the following:

Phylogeny and Ontogeny
Ontogeny is about the development of an individual. Phylogeny is about the
evolutionary history of a population, and how it is related to others. Recapitulation
is discredited idea that the development of an embryo followed the evolutionary
history of that organism.
Taxonomy and Systematics
Taxonomy is concerned with the classification and naming of organisms. Since
Darwin's proposal that all organisms on earth share a common ancestor,
taxonomists have made sure that organisms that do not share a recent common
ancestor are not classified in the same group formally while Systematics is
concerned with the evolutionary relationships of organisms with ascertaining
which organisms share a recent ancestry with which other organisms. It is also
about the amount of evolutionary changes that may have occurred within and
between lineages.
Homology and Analogy
Analogous structures have different evolutionary ancestries but they have the
same function. While Homologous structures are the opposite; they have similar
ancestries and common traits but maybe not have the same function in an
organism.
Adaptation and Natural Selection
An adaptation (or an adaptive trait) is a trait with a functional role that evolved
(and is maintained) by means of natural selection. While the Natural selection is
the differential in survival and/or reproductive success among different
individuals. As such, natural selection also refers to the process by which
genotypes associated with greater fitness increase in frequency in the population
through time.
Convergent and Parallel evolution
Convergent evolution is where two different species fill the same or similar
ecological niches in two different environment. Parallel evolution is where a
population splits in two, yet they continue to evolve similarly.

Tubato, Aza Freya Lan A.
BS Biology

2. Define the following:

Homoplasy
A homoplasy is a character shared by a set of species but not present in
their common ancestor. A good example is the evolution of the eye which
has originated independently in many different species.
Neotony
is the slowing or delaying of body development, compared to non-
human primates, resulting in features such as a large head, a flat face,
and relatively short arms and leg
Speciation
Speciation is the evolutionary process by which biological populations
evolve to become distinct speciesPaedomorphosis
Organic evolution
organic evolution is the process by which changes in the genetic
composition of populations of organisms occur in response to
environmental changes.
Heterochrony
In evolutionary developmental biology, heterochrony is defined as a
developmental change in the timing or rate of events, leading to changes
in size and shape.
Paedogenesis
Paedogenesis, also spelled Pedogenesis, reproduction by sexually mature
larvae, usually without fertilization.
 Tubato, Aza Freya Lan A.
BS Biology

Assignment #2
1. Make a list of significant men and women who have contributed to the historical
progress of comparative anatomy of vertebrates.
2. Describe, elaborate and identify their significant contributions in the study of
vertebrates.

Answers:

Pierre Belon who in 1555 showed that the skeletons of humans and birds are
constructed of similar elements arranged in the same way.

Count de Buffon and Louis-Jean-Marie Daubenton who compared the anatomies of

a wide range of animals. In the early 19th century.

Baron Georges Cuvier placed the field on a more scientific basis by asserting that
animals structural and functional characteristics result from their interaction with
their environment. Cuvier also rejected the 18th-century notion that the members of the
animal kingdom are arranged in a single linear series from the simplest up to humans.
Instead Cuvier arranged all animals into four large groups (vertebrates,
mollusks, articulates, and radiates) according to body plan.

British anatomist Sir Richard Owen whose vast knowledge of vertebrate structure did
not prevent him from opposing Charles Darwins theory of evolution.

Charles Darwin made extensive use of comparative anatomy in advancing his theory,
and it in turn revolutionized the field by explaining the structural differences between
species as arising out of their evolutionary descent by natural selection from a common
ancestor.

Andreas Vesalius was also making some strides of his own. A young anatomist of
Flemish descent made famous by a penchant for amazing charts, he was
systematically investigating and correcting the anatomical knowledge of the Greek
physician Galen.

Edward Tyson is regarded as the founder of comparative anatomy. He is credited with

determining that marine mammals are, in fact, mammals. Also, he concluded
that chimpanzeesare more similar to humans than to monkeys because of their arms.
 Tubato, Aza Freya Lan A.
BS Biology

Marco Aurelio Severino also compared various animals, including birds, in

his Zootomia democritaea, one of the first works of comparative anatomy.