Question

Which of the following is the correct example of homologous organs?
a. Human kidney and earthworm’s nephridia
b. Bat’s wings and horse’s front legs
c. Human trachea and insect tracheae
d. Tendril of cucumber and tendril of smilax

Answer 1

Hint: Homologous structure has similar structural origin and different functions while the analogous organs have similar functions. Human kidney and eartworm’s nephridia have different structures. Bat’s wings and horse’s front legs have similar structural origin but different function.

Complete answer:
Homologous organs include the organs which have similar origin but the functions are different. They also help to make evolutionary connections. They have similar physical features and genomes that tend to be more closely related than those that do not. These types of features that overlap both morphological and genetic structures are referred to as homologous structures. For example: The bones in the wings of bats and birds have homologous structure.

Analogous organs have different structural characteristics but different functions. The wings of the butterfly and the wings of a bird are analogous organs.

Some of the structure is both homologous and analogous such as the wings of a bird and the wings of a bat. In earthworms coiled tubular excretory organs known as nephridia, these are analogous to the kidney in humans. Insect trachea are similar to the respiratory system or trachea of humans ; they have similar functions. Tendril of cucumber and tendril of smilax have different origins so they are analogous organs.

Bat’s wing and horse’s front foot are homologous organs. They are similar in origin but similar or dissimilar in functions. Bats wings used to fly while horse front legs used to walk.

Hence, the correct answer is option (B).

Note: Some other examples of homologous organs are the forelimbs of frog, man and flippers of the whale. They have different functions. Examples of analogous organs are the wings of the insect and the wings of the bird. Both are used for flying purposes. These organisms have some adaptation to the same ecological niche as other organisms.