Divergent vs Convergent Evolution

• Convergent Evolution

  • species of different evolutionary lineages come to resemble each other due to similar functions and natural selection
  • eg. swimming form - fish (shark), mammal (dolphin), bird (penguin)
• Divergent Evolution

  • differences between groups of organisms accumulate, leading to speciation, the development of a new species
  • result of a single species being put into different environments - groups of the same species become isolated, stopping gene flow
  • sub-populations face different environmental pressures, suited to certain structures that can perform specific functions to survive the environment
  • indicated by homologous structures