Question

Vestigial organs such as the appendix exist because

• A. They had an important function during development which is not needed in the adult
• B. They have a redundant role to play if an organ with similar function fails
• C. Nature cannot get rid of structures that have already formed
• D. They were inherited from an evolutionary ancestor in which they were functional

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

They were inherited from an evolutionary ancestor in which they were functional

• The organs which appear to have no function but are present in an organism's body are said to be vestigial.
• These organs were present in the ancestor and in related species. With the change in the environment and behavioral patterns, these organs lost their use.
• However, these organs still exist in certain organisms helping in tracing evolutionary relations.
  Thus the correct answer is option D.