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What is divergent evolution?

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What is divergent evolution?

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  1. Divergent evolution can be seen in some higher-level characters of structure and function that are readily observable in organisms. For example, the vertebrate limb is one example of divergent evolution. The limb in many different species has a common origin, but has diverged somewhat in overall structure and function.

    Alternatively, "divergent evolution" can be applied to molecular biology characteristics. This could apply to a pathway in two or more organisms or cell types, for example. This can apply to genes and proteins, such as nucleotide sequences or protein sequences that derive from two or more homologous genes. Both orthologous genes (resulting from a speciation event) and homologous genes (resulting from gene duplication within a population) can be said to display divergent evolution. Because of the latter, it is possible for divergent evolution to occur between two genes within a species.

    In the case of divergent evolution, similarity is due to the common origin, such as divergence from a common ancestral structure or function has not yet completely obscured the underlying similarity. In contrast, convergent evolution arises when there are some sort of ecological or physical drivers toward a similar solution, even though the structure or function has arisen independently, such as the different characters converge on a common, similar solution from different points of origin. In other words divergent evolution is where animals closely related evolve different structures.


  2. i'll explain it in a few simple words...

    divergent evolution is when..

    organisms  evolve in  different ways even though they might be in the same place

    eg: the darwin finches

    they were birds in the galapagos islands

    due to some reason the island broke apart and now there are many different islands

    the birds have all evolved due to the separation,

    birds on one island have diferent beaks from the birds on the other islands

    so they have evolved- divergently!

    i hope this helped

  3. Divergent evolution is when one species develops into two sub groups due to some geographic isolation. An often used example in the botanical world is the Hawaiian Silversword that shows great morphological variation depending on its habitat. For example, there is a tall bushlike sub-species that can only grow in fresh volcanic areas, while there is another sub-species that looks like a tree and only grows as undergrowth under a forest canopy. The term adaptive radiation is also an important term. It refers to the adaption of a species to a habitat as it spreads and reproduces

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