What term describes body parts that share a common function but do not have a common evolutionary origin?

• A. Pedigree
• B. Analogous Structures
• C. Vestigial Structures
• D. Epithelial Tissue

Answer: (B)

Analogous structures describe body parts that perform a similar function but evolved independently in different lineages. This happens because different organisms face similar environmental challenges, and natural selection shapes different structures to meet the same need. For example, wings used for flight in insects and in birds arose separately; they serve the same purpose but did not come from a common wing ancestor. The same idea applies to other examples like fins for swimming in different vertebrate groups, which evolved separately to achieve the same task.

That’s why the term best fitting the description is analogous structures. Pedigree is about family ancestry, vestigial structures are remnants of once-useful features, and epithelial tissue is a type of tissue, not a concept about function paired with distinct evolutionary origins.