Question

What are vestigial organs? Which theory do they support?

Answer 1

Vestigial Organs:

Organs, tissues, or cells in the body that are no longer functional in their ancestral version of the trait are known as vestigial organs.

1. It is evidence of evolution, which helps to explain adaptation.
2. A structure like this can develop as a result of a gene mutation that causes a change in the proteins.
3. Vestigial structures are formed as a result of these altered proteins.

Examples of Vestigial organs:

1. Snakes are thought to be descendants of lizards. Their legs shrank until only a little bump remained on the backs of some of the largest snakes, such as pythons.
2. Although blind fish and salamanders have eye structures, they live in caves. Mutations in genes that enlarge taste buds are thought to have harmed their vision.
3. Cockroaches are able to fly. Females do not have wings, which makes it difficult for them to fly.
4. The Galapagos cormorants have non-functioning wings. About 2 million years ago, these birds are thought to have evolved into flightless birds.
5. The whale shark feeds on filters. It is made up of rows of teeth that are unable to bite into anything.

Vestigial organs support evolution:

1. Vestigial structures are structures that have lost their function due to evolution.
2. They support evolution because they imply that a creature switched from utilising the structure to not using it, or from using it for a different purpose.