Can wings be vestigial structures?

[MTD52]

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There's a question in the Bio destroyer and it says that "The wing of a bird may be considered a vestigial structure" is false.

Why can't you consider a penguin or ostrich wing vestigial? They don't fly.

 

[dl9006]

for penguins, i think wings serve a different function(ie swimming)

not sure about ostriches. there's prob some function they perform(balance?)

 

[dl9006]

from wikipedia:

lthough structures usually called "vestigial" are largely or entirely functionless, a vestigial structure may retain lesser functions or develop minor new ones.[2] However, care must be taken not to apply the label of vestigiality to exaptation, in which a structure originally used for one purpose is modified for a new one. For example, the wings of penguin or ostrich would not be vestigial, as they have been modified for a substantial new purpose (underwater locomotion or display respectively), while Darwin pointed out that those of an emu would be, as they have no major function now.

 

[predentgrl]

Vestigial is when they have no function, penguins use their wings to swim and ostrich use their wings to show off.
(Fruit flies, on the other hand, may have vestigial wings- they are really small and useless)
I don't think a bird's wings could be be vestigial

 

[joonkimdds]

There's a question in the Bio destroyer and it says that "The wing of a bird may be considered a vestigial structure" is false.

Why can't you consider a penguin or ostrich wing vestigial? They don't fly.

when penguins kill each other, they slap their faces with their wings.

 

[navneetdh]

Vestigial is when they have no function, penguins use their wings to swim and ostrich use their wings to show off.
(Fruit flies, on the other hand, may have vestigial wings- they are really small and useless)
I don't think a bird's wings could be be vestigial

i dont think that is right, fruit flies definitely dont have wings as their vestigial structures.

Ostriches maybe they are vestigial.

 

[navneetdh]

There's a question in the Bio destroyer and it says that "The wing of a bird may be considered a vestigial structure" is false.

Why can't you consider a penguin or ostrich wing vestigial? They don't fly.

and here they did not specify any bird. So you have to think of birds in general and in that case it is definitely false because wings in birds as a general rule are not vestigial and very important structures.

I know you must think of exceptions for the multiple choice but some cases like these you cannot.

I hope it helps. 🙂

 

[Extirpator]

i dont think that is right, fruit flies definitely dont have wings as their vestigial structures.

Ostriches maybe they are vestigial.

although you shouldn't use a recessive trait to define the whole species...
I think he was referring to the autosomal recessive trait of drosphilia having vestigial wings. fyi*

 

[sixkiller]

The dodo (extinct) is said to have vestigial wings....so does the kiwi.

Too lazy to look up more reliable sources, but wikipedia says emu and ostrich wings are vestigial.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vestigial

 

[MTD52]

Okay so I totally get why an ostrich and penguin are not considered to have vestigial wings, but there has to be some type of bird that has them.

As someone just said above, the dodo is considered to have them

My thinking is that if even ONE type of bird has vestigial wings, the answer becomes true, no?

 

[sfrice80]

The dodo (extinct) is said to have vestigial wings....so does the kiwi.

Too lazy to look up more reliable sources, but wikipedia says emu and ostrich wings are vestigial.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vestigial

The kiwi is a true example of vestigial wings on a bird. The problem with the bio section of the exam is its very basic and straightforward as far as the concepts go. I found many times where they are not very precise on their answers. Another example would be crossing over. The book and the exam claim there is no crossing over during mitosis but that is not entirely true, on rare occasions there IS crossing over during mitosis but the rule is there is NO crossing over. It can be somewhat frustrating at times but just take these facts as the general rule and nothing more.

 

[Kneecoal]

when penguins kill each other, they slap their faces with their wings.

penguins kill each other?? what do they do, peck each other to death?

 

[MTD52]

The kiwi is a true example of vestigial wings on a bird. The problem with the bio section of the exam is its very basic and straightforward as far as the concepts go. I found many times where they are not very precise on their answers. Another example would be crossing over. The book and the exam claim there is no crossing over during mitosis but that is not entirely true, on rare occasions there IS crossing over during mitosis but the rule is there is NO crossing over. It can be somewhat frustrating at times but just take these facts as the general rule and nothing more.

Thanks. It's hard not to overthink some things like that.