Question

Which of the following statements is accurate about an organ described as vestigial?

a)it must be neither functional nor homologous to some feature in an ancestor
b)it must be both functional and homologous to some feature in an ancestor
c)it must be analogous to some feature in an ancestor
d)it must be homologous to some feature in an ancestor

Answer 1

A vestigial organ is one that has lost its primary function over the course of evolution and is homologous to a structure in an ancestor.

Step-by-step explanation:

A vestigial organ is one that has become functionless in the course of evolution. The correct statement about a vestigial organ is that it must be homologous to some feature in an ancestor. This means vestigial structures are derived from a common ancestry, and though they may have once been functional in ancestral species, they have lost their primary function in a descendant. However, this does not necessarily mean they are completely without function; some vestigial organs may retain minor functions or have evolved new ones. Vestigial structures contrast with analogous structures, which have similar functions but arise from convergent evolution rather than common descent.