Vestigial Structures Worksheet
Explore vestigial structures in various organisms and understand their significance in evolutionary biology.
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Vestigial Structures: Evidence of Evolution
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Read each question carefully and answer to the best of your ability. This worksheet will assess your understanding of vestigial structures and their role in evolutionary theory.
1. Which of the following best defines a vestigial structure?
A structure that has evolved a new function.
A structure that is fully functional and essential for survival.
A structure that has lost all or most of its original function through evolution.
A structure that is only found in extinct organisms.
2. The human appendix is considered a vestigial structure because:
It is essential for digesting cellulose in humans.
It has no known significant digestive or immune function in modern humans.
It is a newly evolved organ in humans.
It is a structure that is growing in size over generations.
3. The small, non-functional pelvic bones found in whales are examples of structures.
4. Vestigial structures provide evidence for evolution by showing common ancestry and evolutionary .
5. The human coccyx (tailbone) is a vestigial structure.
True
False
6. Wisdom teeth in humans are examples of functional structures that are still evolving.
True
False
7. Provide two examples of vestigial structures in humans (other than the appendix or coccyx) and explain why they are considered vestigial.
8. How do vestigial structures support the theory of evolution?
9. Observe the image below of a whale skeleton. Identify the vestigial structure and explain its evolutionary significance.
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