The study of the similarities and differences in the structures of different organisms is called

• A. Evolution
• B. Fossil
• C. Comparative anatomy
• D. Natural selection

Answer: (C)

Studying how body parts compare across species helps reveal evolutionary relationships and how structures have changed over time. This field, called comparative anatomy, looks at bones, organs, and other features to distinguish homologous structures—those with a common origin—from analogous ones that evolved independently. By comparing anatomy and development, scientists trace how lineages diverged and adapted, explaining why similar body plans appear in different animals. For example, the similar bone arrangement in the forelimbs of humans, whales, bats, and dogs signals a shared ancestry. Other terms refer to different ideas: evolution is the process of change in populations over generations, natural selection is a mechanism driving that change, and a fossil is a preserved remnant from the past.