What causes parallel evolution?
Parallel evolution, defined as identical changes arising in independent populations, is often attributed to similar selective pressures favoring the fixation of identical genetic changes. However, some level of parallel evolution is also expected if mutation rates are heterogeneous across regions of the genome.
What are three examples of parallel evolution?
Examples of these include the placental sabre-toothed cats (Machairodontinae) and the South American marsupial sabre-tooth (Thylacosmilus); the Tasmanian wolf and the European wolf; likewise marsupial and placental moles, flying squirrels, and (arguably) mice.
Is a very good example of parallel evolution?
parallel evolution, the evolution of geographically separated groups in such a way that they show morphological resemblances. A notable example is the similarity shown by the marsupial mammals of Australia to the placental mammals elsewhere.
What is parallel adaptation?
Thus, we define parallel genotypic adaptation as the independent evolution of homologous loci to fulfill the same function in two or more lineages. Note that these changes need not be identical, just functionally equivalent.
Is there a common ancestor in parallel evolution?
It culminates in unrelated organisms with similar morphological characteristics even though they did not have a common ancestor. This phenomenon is called parallel evolution.
What is parallel evolution called?
Parallel evolution is the similar development of a trait in distinct species that are not closely related, but share a similar original trait in response to similar evolutionary pressure.
What is the parallel evolution between marsupials and placental mammals?
The two groups have different modes of reproduction, yet within each group individual species that occupy similar niches have evolved similarities in overall shape, locomotion, and feeding habits. This widespread evolutionary phenomenon is known as convergence.
What is called parallel evolution?
How do adaptations and covariation shape the evolution of ammonoids?
Hence, although adaptation and covariation largely shape the morphological evolution of ammonoids, the still divergent evolution of several shell characters of both lineages in our case of parallel evolution imply that the unique histories of organisms still play a large role in shaping the evolutionary trajectory of clades [ 2 ].
What are the evolutionary constraints on ammonoid shell morphology?
On the one hand, some evolutionary changes in ammonoid shell morphology may be constrained by covariation (e.g., Buckman’s laws of covariation [ 59 ]; see discussion) and may thus be a result of constructional and/or developmental constraints.
What drives parallel evolution?
This example provides evidence that parallel evolution can be driven simultaneously by different factors such as covariation (constructional constraints) and adaptation (natural selection). Independent evolution of similar biological traits in two different lineages branching off from the same ancestor defines parallel evolution [ 1 – 3 ].
Is there a parallel evolution of the crab-like form?
Morrison CL, Harvey AW, Lavery S, Tieu K, Huang Y, Cunningham CW: Mitochondrial gene rearrangements confirm the parallel evolution of the crab-like form. Proc R Soc Lond B. 2002, 269: 345-350. 10.1098/rspb.2001.1886.