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

"The convergent evolution of crabs has happened about five times in history, but it's happened within the group of decapods."

From BBC

This process of carcinisation is a form of convergent evolution.

From BBC

This makes them striking examples of convergent evolution, where two evolutionarily distinct groups evolve similar characteristics due to similar environments and occupying similar niches.

From Salon

The details of convergent evolution might of course be more complex in the eukaryotes, multicellular organisms like humans or decapods with large genomes, the total genetic material of an organism.

From Salon

There’s still so much to figure out about how convergent evolution works, not just in crabs but in all organisms.

From Salon