USA Biology Olympiad (USABO) Practice Exam

Convergent evolution primarily results in the formation of which type of structures?

1. Homologous structures

2. Analogous structures

3. Vestigial structures

4. Embryonic structures

The correct answer is: Analogous structures

Convergent evolution occurs when different species independently evolve similar traits or adaptations in response to similar environmental challenges or niches. This process leads to the development of analogous structures, which are features that serve similar functions but arise from different evolutionary origins. For example, the wings of bats and the wings of birds are analogous because they both facilitate flight, yet they evolved from different ancestral structures. In contrast, homologous structures arise from a common ancestor and reflect evolutionary relationships, while vestigial structures are remnants of ancestral features that have lost their original function through evolution. Embryonic structures pertain to early developmental stages of organisms and can be similar due to shared ancestry, but they are not directly related to convergent evolution. Therefore, the primary outcome of convergent evolution is the formation of analogous structures.