Structures that were once functional in the past but no longer serve a purpose due to evolutionary adaptations and physiological changes are referred to as:
Correct answer: A. Vestigial
- A. Vestigial
- B. Analogous structures
- C. Homologous structures
- D. None of these
Explanation
Structures that were once functional in the past but no longer serve a purpose due to evolutionary adaptations and physiological changes are referred to as vestigial. Here are some examples of vestigial structures in humans: The appendix, the coccyx, the wisdom teeth, the palmaris longus muscle, and the plica semilunaris. These structures are thought to have been useful for our ancestors, but they are no longer necessary for our survival in our modern environment.
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About Evolution
Evolution describes heritable change in populations over generations through variation, natural selection and adaptation. Lamarckism explains inheritance of acquired characteristics, while Darwinism explains selection of favourable inherited variations; these historical explanations must not be confused with the modern genetic account of evolutionary change.
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