Convergent evolution

Convergent Evolution

Convergent evolution (/kənˈvɜːrdʒənt iːvəˈluːʃən/), from the Latin convergere meaning "to incline together" and evolutio meaning "unrolling", is a process in biology where different species independently evolve similar traits as a result of having to adapt to similar environments or ecological niches.

Overview

In evolutionary biology, convergent evolution is the process whereby organisms not closely related (not monophyletic), independently evolve similar traits as a result of having to adapt to similar environments or ecological niches. It is the opposite of divergent evolution, where related species evolve different traits.

Examples

Examples of convergent evolution include the similar nature of the flight/wings of insects, birds, pterosaurs, and bats. All four serve the same function and are similar in structure, but each evolved independently.

Mechanism

The genetic and epigenetic mechanisms of convergent evolution are not fully understood. However, it is generally accepted that the environment and natural selection play a significant role in driving convergent evolution.

Related Terms

• Adaptive radiation
• Parallel evolution
• Evolutionary relay
• Mimicry

See Also

• Evolution
• Natural selection
• Phylogenetics
• Homoplasy

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Convergent evolution
• Wikipedia's article - Convergent evolution

This WikiMD article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.

---

Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski