Question

What are homologous organs? Mention any two examples.

Answer 1

Hint: Evolution is the basic necessity for the up-gradation of the organisms. We need to grow individually and evolve to work more efficiently. Evolution happens usually to adapt to the environment. Thus many habits and morphological changes occur in the organisms over a course of time.

Complete answer:
Homologous organs are referred to the organs/traits that are inherited by two different organisms but from the same ancestry. They are similar in the morphology but do different works. That means their functions are different.
Homology was introduced by Charles Darwin in 1859.

They have the same embryonic origin. We can know the common ancestor by knowing their connection to the same structures. They form the skeletal elements of animals and organisms.

Homology shows the divergent evolution that is the one ancestry leads to further developments in the organisms.
Analogous organs have different origins of ancestry but do the same functions. The analogy shows the convergent evolution and also is called homoplasy.

Example of homologous organs- forelimb of god and flipper of whales. They are morphologically and structurally the same but have different functions. The placements of bones are the same giving them similar structures.
The wings of the birds and forelimbs of the lizard have the same arrangement of bones but work majorly differently.

Note: Analogous structures examples are wings in birds like bats and insects, fins in aquatic animals like penguins and fish. Thus they have the same function of flying and movement respectively but have evolved from different ancestors.