Biology / Unit 4 Bio 0906 short lesson, about 20 seconds
FtsZ and Tubulin: Homologous Structures
Captions available
The idea
FtsZ and tubulin, the building block of eukaryotic microtubules, are homologous structures sharing a common evolutionary origin, both using GTP to rapidly assemble and disassemble.
In practice
FtsZ forms filaments and rings resembling the structures tubulin forms in a mitotic spindle, evidence of a shared ancestor.
Where people slip
This resemblance reflects shared ancestry, not a claim that division is identical in both domains.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Something wrong in this lesson? Flag it · Sources for Biology