Question

Explain how convergent evolution results in features with a similar function but a dissimilar structure?

Answer 1

Two animals with different lineages (thus differently structured) are subject to similar selection pressures (thus similar solutions).

Explanation:

Let's take the example of a penguin and a whale. One is a bird and the other is a mammal. While their body structures are very different, they were both in environments (the ocean) that require fast/efficient swimming in order to catch prey/move well in the water. Over time, their ancestors evolved to better suit this environment and the "solution" happened upon for both of them was the same - a streamlined body shape. Therefore, the two animals converged or "came together" in this example with bodies that are made of different stuff but similar in shape, in order to address the same problem.