Skip to content

Compare and contrast… (Class 12 Biology 2025, Q28)

questionbuddy.in/q/cbse-12-biology-2025-57-1-1-q28-compare-contrast-convergent-divergent-evolution

BiologyCBSE Class 12 · Board exam 2025, set 57/1/1 · 3 marks · Short answer

CBSE Class 12 Biology 2025: question 28

Set in the CBSE Class 12 board exam of 2025, paper 57/1/1, section C, question 28, for 3 marks. Try it first; the hints and our step-by-step solution are below.

Q28 · 3 marks · Short answerEvolution

Compare and contrast convergent and divergent evolution.

Source: official question paper from cbse.gov.in (PDF). See it in the full 2025 board paper, set 57/1/1.

Hints

Open one hint at a time and try again before the next.

Hint 1

'Compare and contrast' asks for both differences and at least one similarity.

Hint 2

Link each type of evolution to homologous or analogous organs, with an example of each.

Step-by-step solution

Each step shows the marks it earns, as an examiner would award them. Checked by an independent re-solve from the question paper.

  1. Difference 1: In divergent evolution, the same basic structure develops along different directions as an adaptation to different needs. In convergent evolution, different structures evolve to perform the same function and so come to look similar.

    1 mark

  2. Difference 2: Divergent evolution gives homologous organs and indicates common ancestry (e.g. forelimbs of whale, bat, cheetah and human). Convergent evolution gives analogous organs and shows that a similar habitat selected similar adaptive features (e.g. wings of butterfly and bird, eyes of octopus and mammals).

    1 mark

  3. Similarity: Both are driven by the environment through natural selection, and both contribute to the evolution of species (adaptive radiation).

    1 mark

Answer: Divergent evolution: same structure modified for different functions, giving homologous organs and indicating common ancestry. Convergent evolution: different structures adapted for the same function, giving analogous organs and indicating similar habitat. Both are shaped by the environment/natural selection and contribute to species evolution.

Where the marks are

  • One correct difference (definition/direction) (1 mark)
  • Second correct difference (homologous vs analogous, or common ancestry vs similar habitat) (1 mark)
  • One similarity, e.g. both are influenced by the environment / both contribute to evolution (1 mark)

Revise the chapter

Practise this chapterBoard-style questions from Evolution, one at a time, marked against the answer key and marking points.Back to the full paper2025 board paper, set 57/1/1: every question, by section.

The question is transcribed from the official paper; figures are described in words. The solution, hints and chapter tag are ours. Spotted an error? Write tosupport@questionbuddy.in.