Snakes and worms have no legs and share a similar tube-like body structure. Describe how you could determine how closely related these two types of organisms are.

Question

anonymous · Answer

u already mention the tube structure u need more points?

anonymous · Answer

yes please.

anonymous · Answer

earthworm and snake have same body organisation that is tube withi n a tube and germ layers is also same that is triploblatic , both have bilateral symmetery, both show sexual dimorphisasm . unisexual, and  cephalisation is found in both too.. i guess this is enough :)

anonymous · Answer

thanks.!

anonymous · Answer

You need to look at the differences between snakes and worms (I assume the question is referring to annelids) as well.

anonymous · Answer

yea that y i mention earthworm a dey didnt define which worm :P

anonymous · Answer

@heena: Some annelids have separate sexes, but earthworms are actually hermaphroditic. And no, they don't show sexual dimorphism. Nor do (most?) snakes, as far as I know. And... uh... have you ever looked at the body organisation of an annelid vs. a snake?

blues · Answer

For determining how closely related the two groups are, you could compare their physiological characteristics as @heena and @Calliope suggest - or you could do it quantitatively the molecular way, by sequencing both their DNA and seeing how similar or different the sequences are. Two and complementary approaches to the same problem.