Question

Which statement about analogies is correct?

a) Analogous structures indicate common ancestry.
b) Analogies result from convergent evolution.
c) Analogies are synonymous with homologous structures.
d) Analogous structures are always vestigial.

Answer 1

Analogous structures result from convergent evolution, where different species independently evolve similar traits due to similar environmental pressures, despite not sharing a common ancestor.

Correct option is b) Analogies result from convergent evolution.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct statement about analogies is that analogous structures result from convergent evolution. Convergent evolution occurs when different species live in similar environments and independently evolve similar adaptations for survival in those environments. The structures may have similar functions but do not share a common ancestor. For example, the wings of butterflies and birds are analogous because they serve the same function of flight, but they did not arise from a common ancestral wing structure. The wings of bats and birds are another example; despite their similar function, the bone structures differ significantly because their wings evolved independently.

This distinguishes them from homologous structures, which share a common ancestry and often have similar underlying anatomies despite potentially different functions.