Which of the following statements is not true ?
Answer: (D) Flippers of penguins and dolphins are a pair of homologous organs. Answer: (D) Flippers of penguins and dolphins are a pair of homologous organs.
- A.Analogous structures are a result of convergent evolution
- B.Sweet potato and potato is an example of analogy
- C.Homology indicates common ancestry
- D.Flippers of penguins and dolphins are a pair of homologous organs✓
Correct Answer
(D) Flippers of penguins and dolphins are a pair of homologous organs
Solution & Explanation
Answer: (D) Flippers of penguins and dolphins are a pair of homologous organs. This statement is the one that is NOT true: flippers of penguins (a bird) and dolphins (a mammal) are anatomically dissimilar structures evolved for the same function in a similar habitat, so they are ANALOGOUS (convergent evolution), not homologous. Options (a), (b) and (c) are all correct: analogous structures result from convergent evolution, sweet potato and potato are an example of analogy, and homology indicates common ancestry. NCERT Reference: Ch 6 Evolution, p.115, lines 11–17: "analogous structures are a result of convergent evolution - different structures evolving for the same function and hence having similarity. Other examples of analogy are the eye of the octopus and of mammals or the flippers of Penguins and Dolphins."