Vestigial structures are parts of an organism’s body that have lost most or all of their original purpose as they have evolved over time. These features help us understand evolution and how living things adapt to their surroundings. Here’s how they work:
Common Ancestors: Vestigial structures show that different species have a shared ancestor. For example, the small pelvic bones found in whales and snakes are leftovers from their land-dwelling ancestors.
Adaptation: When we see vestigial features, it shows us how species change to fit their environments. Take the human appendix, for example. It’s considered vestigial because only about 2% of people ever need surgery to remove it when it gets inflamed.
Evolutionary Changes: Vestigial structures highlight how living things have changed over time. About 80% of vertebrates (animals with backbones) have some kind of vestigial trait, showing all the different ways species can adapt.
In short, vestigial structures are important clues that help us understand how evolution works and how species have changed to survive in their environments over millions of years.
Vestigial structures are parts of an organism’s body that have lost most or all of their original purpose as they have evolved over time. These features help us understand evolution and how living things adapt to their surroundings. Here’s how they work:
Common Ancestors: Vestigial structures show that different species have a shared ancestor. For example, the small pelvic bones found in whales and snakes are leftovers from their land-dwelling ancestors.
Adaptation: When we see vestigial features, it shows us how species change to fit their environments. Take the human appendix, for example. It’s considered vestigial because only about 2% of people ever need surgery to remove it when it gets inflamed.
Evolutionary Changes: Vestigial structures highlight how living things have changed over time. About 80% of vertebrates (animals with backbones) have some kind of vestigial trait, showing all the different ways species can adapt.
In short, vestigial structures are important clues that help us understand how evolution works and how species have changed to survive in their environments over millions of years.