11 Questions
What are vestigial organs?
Developed useless organs of organisms
What can cause an organ to become vestigial?
Gradual changes in existing organs
Which organ is listed as vestigial in humans according to the content?
Appendix
How long does it take for vestigial organs to disappear?
Thousands of years
Which of these is NOT mentioned as a vestigial organ in the content?
Lungs
What is the term for organs that have lost their original function over time?
Vestigial organs
Which of the following is NOT an example of a vestigial organ in humans?
Heart
Which vestigial organ in humans was once useful for tail movement in animals?
Tailbone
What is the role of natural selection in the context of vestigial organs?
It retains only functional structures
Why might a specific structure in the body become useless or harmful according to the passage?
Because it becomes unsuited to changed conditions
Which of these vestigial organs is mentioned as useful for body warmth in animals but not in humans?
Body hair
Study Notes
Vestigial Organs
- Vestigial organs are degenerated or underdeveloped organs that have lost their original function in an organism.
- They are present in living organisms due to their adaptation to specific conditions in the past.
- These organs were once useful but became useless or even harmful under changing environmental conditions.
- The process of natural selection favors organisms with structures best suited for their environment, leading to the disappearance of vestigial organs over time.
Examples of Vestigial Organs in Humans
- Appendix: useful in ruminants, but useless in humans.
- Muscles of the ear pinna: useful for ear movement in animals, but useless in humans.
- Tailbone (coccyx): useful for tail movement in animals, but useless in humans.
- Wisdom teeth: useful in some animals, but useless in humans.
- Body hair: useful for body warmth in animals, but useless in humans.
Characteristics of Vestigial Organs
- They are present in different phases of disappearance.
- Although non-functional in certain organisms, they may not be vestigial in other organisms.
- It takes thousands of years for the disappearance of organs.
Learn about degenerated or underdeveloped useless organs in organisms and how they adapt to specific conditions through natural selection.
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