Question

6. How do analogous structures arise in different species?

A) A basic structure inherited from a common ancestor develops different variations in different species.

B) Structures developed by an ancestral species are found in several distantly releated species.

C) Two species develop identical structures when the identical mutation occurs in both species.

D) Distantly related species independently develop similar structures in response to similarenvironmental pressures.

Answer 1

Option D is the correct answer. Analogous structures are similar structure found in different organisms (different species). The structures are similar in function because they evolved to perform same function and not because they were inherited from a common ancestor as in case of homologous structure. The analogous structures are evolved to adapt the similar environmental pressure in different organisms. For example, wings of bat and insects are analogous structure and they perform same function that is flying.