Final answer:
The pair of cell structures sharing a similar function is C) tight junction-gap junction, as both are involved in regulating the intercellular environment by respectively blocking or allowing the passage of substances to facilitate communication and maintain selective barriers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks which of the given pairs shares a similar function. Among the options provided, the pair that shares similar functions is C) tight junction-gap junction.
Tight junctions form a watertight seal between two adjacent cells in animal tissues, preventing the movement of substances between them and thus maintaining a selective barrier. On the other hand, gap junctions create intercellular passageways that allow for the passage of ions and small molecules between adjacent animal cells, facilitating communication. This function is comparable to the plasmodesmata in plant cells, which also provide channels for communication between adjacent cells.
Therefore, both tight junctions and gap junctions are involved in controlling the environment between adjacent cells, though in different ways—one by blocking substances and the other by allowing certain substances to pass—which gives them similar functional roles.