What is convergent evolution?
What is convergent evolution? Convergent evolution occurs when organisms that aren’t closely related evolve similar features or behaviours, often as solutions to the same problems. The process can result in matching body shapes, colour patterns or abilities. Convergent evolution—in which distinct lineages independently evolve similar traits—has fascinated evolutionary biologists for centuries [1], in large part because convergent evolution is often thought to represent a visible manifestation of the power of natural selection.A recent series of studies suggests that the brains of birds, reptiles and mammals all evolved independently — even though they share a common ancestor. This process, where different species independently evolve similar traits, is called convergent evolution.Convergent evolution is when two species that do not share a recent common ancestor end up with similar traits due to their environment and their role in it. This is almost the exact opposite as divergent evolution.The concepts underlying convergent evolution can be traced back to Richard Owen, a British biologist who, despite doubting Darwin’s theory of evolution, in the mid 1800s pointed out the difference between animals with body parts that are built similarly (homologues) and body parts that just have similar purposes ( .Convergent evolution can be seen in the structurally similar eyes of Squid and humans, in the mobility of worms and snakes with hot legs, and in the wings of bats and birds.
What is an example of convergent and divergent evolution?
You can have a species that evolved convergently to another species (eg flight in bats and birds) and then in at least one of those groups there was divergent evolution that got rid of the convergent trait (eg flightless emus descended from flying birds). For the past 140 years, the camera-type cephalopod eye has been compared with the vertebrate eye as an example of convergent evolution, where both types of organisms have independently evolved the camera-eye trait and both share similar functionality.Therefore, the eyes of humans and octopuses have been described as a typical example of convergent evolution (Fig.
Do humans have convergent evolution?
Despite the similar lightening of skin colour after moving out of Africa, different genes were involved in European (left) and East Asian (right) lineages. Convergent evolution in humans includes blue eye colour and light skin colour. The main gene that controls eye color is relatively closely linked to the genes that cause skin color. It is believed that the ancient human ancestors all had dark brown or nearly black colored eyes and very dark hair (which is also controlled by linked genes to eye color and skin color).Despite the similar lightening of skin colour after moving out of Africa, different genes were involved in European (left) and East Asian (right) lineages. Convergent evolution in humans includes blue eye colour and light skin colour.
What is convergent evolution according to NCERT?
Convergent Evolution**: – **Definition**: Convergent evolution occurs when different species evolve similar traits or structures independently, often because they adapt to similar environments or ecological niches. Characteristics**: . Convergent evolution at the genetic level can result from one of three processes: first, evolution by mutations that occurred independently in different populations or species; second, evolution of an allele that was polymor phic in a shared ancestral population; and third, evolu tion of an allele that was introduced .Convergence often results from similar genetic changes, which can emerge in two ways: the evolution of similar or identical mutations in independent lineages, which is termed parallel evolution; and the evolution in independent lineages of alleles that are shared among populations, which I call collateral genetic .These are evolution by: mutation, genetic drift, natural selection, and gene flow. Each type of evolution can be characterized by how it affects fitness, adaptation, the average phenotype of a trait in a population, and the genetic diversity of the population.