Homologus Traits
Cats and Humans do share a homologus trait. The cats front paw is similar to that of the human hand. The human hand shares the same amount of digits as the front paws of the cat. Although they both look similar in bone structure the paw and hand are used in different ways. The cat uses its phalanges primarily for walking where as a human uses its phalanges for climbing and grabbing. At the end of the phalanges the cat has claws and the human has nails. The claws and nails at the end of each of their phalanges are used in different ways. The claw which is used for self defense, hunting, and climbing has a different shape to that of a human nail. It is pointy and curved whereas the human nail is flat. The most common suited ancestor of these species is the placental mammal.
Analogous Traits
Cats and insects also share an analogous trait. Their appendages are used primarily for mobility. The legs of insects and cats have limbs and are able to move at the joints. Besides walking both insects and cats can use their legs for swimming and jumping. Most insects also have claws located somewhere on their appendages. You would have to go way back to try and find the most common ancestor of these two species. The closest ancestor to them would be the velvet worm and this trait would be present since the velvet worm is a worm with appendages.
Cats and Humans do share a homologus trait. The cats front paw is similar to that of the human hand. The human hand shares the same amount of digits as the front paws of the cat. Although they both look similar in bone structure the paw and hand are used in different ways. The cat uses its phalanges primarily for walking where as a human uses its phalanges for climbing and grabbing. At the end of the phalanges the cat has claws and the human has nails. The claws and nails at the end of each of their phalanges are used in different ways. The claw which is used for self defense, hunting, and climbing has a different shape to that of a human nail. It is pointy and curved whereas the human nail is flat. The most common suited ancestor of these species is the placental mammal. 
Cats and insects also share an analogous trait. Their appendages are used primarily for mobility. The legs of insects and cats have limbs and are able to move at the joints. Besides walking both insects and cats can use their legs for swimming and jumping. Most insects also have claws located somewhere on their appendages. You would have to go way back to try and find the most common ancestor of these two species. The closest ancestor to them would be the velvet worm and this trait would be present since the velvet worm is a worm with appendages. 
I appreciate that you had a central organism and used that animal for both parts of the assignment.
ReplyDeleteGood description and background on your homologous trait. Did the mammalian ancestor possess this trait as well?
Good analogous comparison. You are probably not far off that the common ancestor was a work-like creature but can you get as specific as suggesting that it was a velvet worm? Or was this just and example of what it might have been? Did the ancestor need to have appendages for this to be a valid analogous trait?
I think I might have gotten a bit specific with the velvet worm. I think in general the segmented worm would be the most common ancestor.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the response.
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