convergent evolution

American  

noun

1. the appearance of apparently similar structures in organisms of different lines of descent.

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convergent evolution Cultural  

1. The development through evolution of similar features by organisms with distinctly different ancestors. A common example of this is the evolution of wings in insects and birds.

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Etymology

Origin of convergent evolution

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

“New fossils are showing more and more cases of convergent evolution,” Aureliano says, suggesting that part of what made dinosaurs so successful was this repeated development of key traits.

From Scientific American

But they have genetic changes at many of the same places as the Omicron variant, suggesting a case of convergent evolution.

From Science Magazine

Convergent evolution—the process by which organisms that aren’t closely related independently evolve similar traits as a result of adapting to similar environments—is incredibly common.

From Scientific American

This ability could suggest close evolutionary relationship to the only living upright ape, humans – or his upright stance could be the result of convergent evolution.

From Salon

“One way to envision this type of convergent evolution is a game of Tetris, where a limited number of building blocks can be assembled in different ways, in different combinations, to achieve the same winning structures,” Cooper writes.

From Scientific American