Wiktionary
n. (context biology English) A trait of evolution in which species acquire similar property because of their advantageousness.
Wikipedia
Convergent evolution is the independent evolution of similar features in species of different lineages. Convergent evolution creates analogous structures that have similar form or function but were not present in the last common ancestor of those groups. The cladistic term for the same phenomenon is homoplasy, from Greek for same form. The recurrent evolution of flight is a classic example of convergent evolution. Flying insects, birds, and bats have all evolved the capacity of flight independently. They have "converged" on this useful trait.
Functionally similar features arising through convergent evolution are termed analogous, in contrast to homologous structures or traits, which have a common origin but not necessarily a similar function. The British anatomist Richard Owen was the first scientist to recognise the fundamental difference between analogies and homologies. Bat and pterosaur wings constitute an example of analogous structures, while the bat wing is homologous to human and other mammal forearms, sharing an ancestral state despite serving different functions. The opposite of convergent evolution is divergent evolution in which related species evolve different traits. On a molecular level, that can happen from random mutation unrelated to adaptive changes; see long branch attraction.
Convergent evolution is similar to but different from parallel evolution. Parallel evolution occurs when two independent but similar species evolve in the same direction and thus independently acquire similar characteristic; for instance, gliding frogs have evolved in parallel from multiple types of tree frog.
Usage examples of "convergent evolution".
This kind of difference in detail is very characteristic of convergent evolution, as we have seen.
The other is through convergent evolution-similar pressures in the environment caused them to develop similar strategies to counter it.
All known intelligents have tended toward the ultoid physical form through convergent evolution, and the forms of rational thought have followed the same convergence.
Maybe convergent evolution was possible, as Satan had described it-but if the Glob and the Cloud really were flowing backward in time, what were the chances of their people matching Earth’.
Maybe convergent evolution was possible, as Satan had described it-but if the Glob and the Cloud really were flowing backward in time, what were the chances of their people matching Earth's so closely, even in slang, right at this moment?
Thranx and terrestrial insects are an example of convergent evolution.
They're not like us at all, even if you want to throw in theories about convergent evolution.
Our present world is littered with examples of 'convergent evolution', in which creatures have very similar forms but very different evolutionary histories.
There may be some convergent evolution because there may be only one best solution to a certain environmental problem - something like two eyes, for example, for binocular vision at optical frequencies.
We call it convergent evolution, where two creatures look alike not because they're necessarily related, but because they evolve to do the same thing.
We call it convergent evolution, where two creatures look alike not because they’.
Now he looked at shells that suggested either a preposterous coincidence of convergent evolution, or&mdash.
Humanoid aliens are a dime a dozen, because convergent evolution makes for similar forms under similar conditions.