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Convergent Evolution

Convergent Evolution

Evolution shapes the features of organisms over time, ensuring that they are suited for the environments in which they live. Sometimes, selection pressure leads to the rise of similar but unrelated adaptations in organisms with no recent common ancestors, a process known as convergent evolution.

Speciation Rates

Speciation Rates

The Evidence for Evolution

The Evidence for Evolution

Genetic variations accumulating within populations over generations give rise to biological evolution. Evolutionary changes can result in the formation of novel varieties and entire new species. These changes are responsible for the diverse forms of life inhabiting the planet. The evidence for evolution suggests that all living organisms descended from common ancestors.

Evolution of New Traits in Microbes

Evolution of New Traits in Microbes

Microorganisms evolve rapidly due to their large population sizes and short generation times, often exhibiting measurable changes within days under laboratory conditions. Natural selection acts on standing genetic variation, enabling the retention and amplification of beneficial traits that confer fitness advantages in changing environments.Adaptive Pigment Regulation in RhodobacterIn Rhodobacter, a genus of purple non-sulfur bacteria, light-harvesting pigments such as bacteriochlorophyll and...

Types of Selection

Types of Selection

Natural selection influences the frequencies of particular alleles and phenotypes within populations in several different ways. Primarily, natural selection can be directional, stabilizing, or disruptive. Directional selection favors one extreme trait and shifts the population towards that phenotype while selecting against individuals displaying alternate traits. Stabilizing selection favors an intermediate trait with a narrow range of variation. Deviation from the optimal phenotype towards an...

Genetics of Speciation

Genetics of Speciation

Speciation is the evolutionary process resulting in the formation of new, distinct species—groups of reproductively isolated populations.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 28, 2026

Injecting Gryllus bimaculatus Eggs

Injecting Gryllus bimaculatus Eggs

Published on: August 22, 2019

Rapid convergent evolution in wild crickets.

Sonia Pascoal¹, Timothee Cezard², Aasta Eik-Nes¹

¹Centre for Biological Diversity, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9TH, UK.

Current Biology : CB

|June 3, 2014

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Convergent evolution in field crickets shows rapid adaptation. The flatwing trait, which silences males to avoid flies, evolved independently on two Hawaiian islands from different genetic starting points.

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Area of Science:

Evolutionary biology
Genomics
Animal behavior

Background:

Convergent evolution is challenging to study in its early stages.
The field cricket (Teleogryllus oceanicus) flatwing trait provides a rare opportunity to observe incipient convergent evolution.
This trait, appearing in the 21st century, results in silent male crickets, offering protection from parasitoid flies (Ormia ochracea).

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the evolutionary origins of the flatwing trait in Hawaiian field crickets.
To test hypotheses of independent evolution versus introgression of the flatwing trait between Kauai and Oahu.
To understand the genomic architecture underlying convergent phenotypes.

Main Methods:

Morphometric analysis of male cricket wings.
Genetic crosses to confirm Mendelian inheritance of the flatwing trait.
Genome-wide scans using Restriction-site Associated DNA sequencing (RAD-seq).

Main Results:

Distinct wing morphologies were observed between Kauai and Oahu flatwing populations.
The flatwing mutation was confirmed as a single-locus, sex-linked Mendelian trait on both islands.
Genome scans revealed largely distinct genetic markers associated with flatwing on each island, indicating independent origins.

Conclusions:

The flatwing trait evolved independently on Kauai and Oahu, driven by natural selection.
Convergent phenotypes can arise from different genomic starting points and mutational events.
This study highlights the rapid pace at which selection can shape adaptation.