- A Homologous organs, since they share a common evolutionary origin according to most researchers in the majority of cases studied
- B Analogous organs, since they perform a similar function but differ in structure and developmental origin
- C Vestigial organs retained from a shared excretory ancestor in both groups as widely reported in standard practice
- D Convergent duplications of the same embryonic mesodermal structure in both phyla under most conditions encountered
Correct answer: B. Analogous organs, since they perform a similar function but differ in structure and developmental origin
Explanation: Malpighian tubules and nephrons perform a similar excretory function (removing nitrogenous waste from a body fluid) but are structurally and developmentally unrelated, making them analogous organs rather than homologous ones.
Concept context
The four basic animal tissue types (epithelial, connective, muscular, neural) and the cockroach as a model organism for organ-system level organisation.