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Laboratory selection quickly erases historical differentiation.

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Evolutionary history and chance can influence adaptation. This study shows that despite different starting points, Drosophila populations rapidly converged on similar adaptive traits in a new environment, demonstrating predictable evolution.

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Genetics
  • Ecology

Background:

  • The predictability of evolution is debated, with some studies supporting convergence and others divergence.
  • Empirical data on real-time adaptation in populations with divergent histories is limited.
  • Understanding evolutionary paths is crucial for predicting adaptation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the real-time evolutionary dynamics of Drosophila subobscura populations colonizing a new environment.
  • To investigate whether populations with divergent histories converge to the same adaptive state.
  • To assess the role of selection in overcoming historical differences and chance events in evolution.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of real-time evolutionary dynamics in Drosophila subobscura.
  • Examination of life-history, physiological, and morphological traits.
  • Comparison of populations previously differentiated along the European cline in a new common environment.

Main Results:

  • Drosophila populations quickly converged to the same adaptive state via different evolutionary paths.
  • All analyzed traits, including those not directly linked to fitness, showed full convergence.
  • Selection erased the signature of divergent histories in a short number of generations.

Conclusions:

  • Convergent evolution can occur rapidly even in populations with deeply divergent histories.
  • Selection can override historical contingency, leading to predictable evolutionary outcomes.
  • The study provides empirical evidence for repeatable adaptive patterns in nature.