Gunpreet, Subject Matter Expert at Edumarz
Answer: Analogous organs: Analogous organs are those organs that have the same function, however, they are different in their structure and components. Basically, these organs have different origins. This also shows that organisms having analogous structures must have evolved from different ancestors.
Example 1. Wings of birds and bats: Both birds and bats use their wings to fly, but their structure is different. Wings of bats are mainly skin foldings stretched between their elongated fingers whereas the wings of birds are a feathery covering along the whole arm. Thus the design of their wings is very different.
Example 2. Wings of Insects and birds: Wings of insects and birds are also used for flying but they do not have the same structure. Wings of insects do not have bones, while wings of birds have bones.
Homologous organs: Homologous organs are those organs that have the same origin and structure but different functions. Because their origin is the same, this shows that organisms with homologous organs have inherited their characters from common ancestors.
Example 1. Limbs of amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals: The basic structure of their limbs is the same, however, they are adapted or modified to perform different functions.
Example 2. Thorns of Bougainvillea and tendril of Cucurbita: Thorns of Bougainvillea and tendril of Cucurbita are axillary branches, however, they modified into thorns in Bougainvillea for protection from burrowing animals and into tendrils in Cucurbita for climbing.
a. Thorn of Bougainvillea b. Tendril of Cucurbita