Vestigial Structures

Welcome to this Vestigial Structures Webquest! By researching different vestigal structures and their functions, you will gain more information about vestigial structures! Hope you enjoy this quest! 

Your task is to research different vestigial structures of various animal species. By following the instructions on the "Process" page, you will be able to answer the series of questions given to you. As you research, you should think about the ancestors of the animals that could have given them the vestiges. Now, time to begin! 

Let's get started!

NOTE: Use your own words to answer the questions! Do not steal words from the websites!

Wisdom Teeth

Use this link to help you answer the following questions: http://scienceline.ucsb.edu/getkey.php?key=147

1.) What are vestigial structures?

2.) What adjectives would be fitting to describe wisdom teeth?

3.) Is the human jaw bigger or smaller than it was 300 years ago?

4.) List 3 other interesting facts you found from this article.

Flightless Birds

Use this link to help you answer the following questions: http://www.creationresearch.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=artic…

1.) Name 3 flightless birds.

2.) What do the wings do to help the birds?

3.) Which bird has no control over its wings? What types of predators is it killed by?

4.) List 3 other interesting facts you found from this article.

Erector Pili and Body Hair

Use this link to help you answer the following questions: http://www.creationstudies.org/Education/vestigal_organs.html#BodyHair

1.) What are Erector Pili?

2.) What quote is used to describe body hair?

3.) What do people assume about our ancestors based on body hair?

4.) List 3 other interesting facts you found from this article.

The Human Appendix

Use the following link to help you answer the following questions: http://www.creationstudies.org/Education/vestigal_organs.html#appendix

1.) What is an appendix?

2.) What does the appendix do in plant-eating vertebrates?

3.) How many deaths are there from appendicitis?

4.) List 3 other interesting facts you found from this article.

The Human Tailbone 

Use the following link to help you answer the following questions: http://www.evolutionnews.org/2015/02/from_the_steadi093701.html 

1.) What is the tailbone, or the coccynx, used for?

2.) Can you live without a tailbone? Why or why not?

3.) Do you believe that the tailbone is useless? Why or why not?

4.) List 3 other interesting facts you found from this article.

After completing this Webquest, you should be able to take a quiz based on the information that you received after reading the different websites and articles that were listed. 

Now that you are familiar with these different vestiges, you will have a better understanding of vestigial structures. 

Jenna Reding

MS-LS4-2 Game Show Assignment #3

12/10/15