If a structure has no apparent function in one species, yet is homologous to a functional organ in another species, this structure is termed

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The prompt presents a biology question about a structure that has no apparent function in one species but is homologous to a functional organ in another species, and asks for the term used.
First, note that no answer options were provided in the data snippet. Without a list of choices to evaluate, we cannot walk through each option individually. Nevertheless, we can address the core concept directly.
When a structure in one species lacks an obvious function but corresponds by similarity and origin to a functioning structure in another species, it is described as vestigial. Vestigial organs are remnants of features that were functional in the organism’s ancestors but have reduced or lost their original function over time due to changes in lifestyle, environment, or developmental constraints. Classic examples include the human appendix, the pelvis and leg bones of whales, and the wings of flightless birds that retain the basic structure of wings without serving their ancestral purpose.
To contrast with vestigial structures: if a feature is currently functional and serves a clear purpose in the organism, it would not be described as vestigial; it would simply be a functional trait. If a structure is entirely absent in the species, it would not be labeled vestigial in that species. If a feature is structurally similar because of shared ancestry but performs a different function, it might be discussed under concepts like homology and divergent evolution, yet vestigial emphasizes reduced or lost function of an ancestral structure.
In summary, a structure that is nonfunctional in one species but homologous to a functional organ in another is termed vestigial, reflecting its status as a reduced, nonessential remnant of an ancestral feature.

Biol-100-OLH-OMH-ONH Quiz #10

If a structure has no apparent function in one species, yet is homologous to a functional organ in another species, this structure is termed

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