Convergent evolution is something we saw maybe first in high school biology since there are easy examples of birds and bats as substantially different genetically and yet both evolved ways to fly and came to resemble each other in that way. At first the science today seems only to confirm convergent evolution but it goes quite a bit beyond that. (Science Daily: New evolutionary finding: Species take different genetic paths to reach same trait)
Through a deep genetic study, this science has discovered convergent evolution is much more common than the obvious example presented in high school biology. Even within closely-related species of birds, scientists discovered multiple different ways, genetically, of getting to the same place (i.e. dealing with more efficient hemoglobin to deal with high-altitude existence).
As to the conclusion the scientists derive from this, well, there really isn't one.
As evolution advances through time, different mutations accumulate in distinct species and settings. Natural selection applies similar pressures for species to adapt as they move to higher altitudes, for example, but the adaptation must take different genetic paths to get there.
"This is a new phenomenon that our findings have helped reveal," Storz said. His team continues to explore historical influences on genetic adaptation.
Through a deep genetic study, this science has discovered convergent evolution is much more common than the obvious example presented in high school biology. Even within closely-related species of birds, scientists discovered multiple different ways, genetically, of getting to the same place (i.e. dealing with more efficient hemoglobin to deal with high-altitude existence).
As to the conclusion the scientists derive from this, well, there really isn't one.
As evolution advances through time, different mutations accumulate in distinct species and settings. Natural selection applies similar pressures for species to adapt as they move to higher altitudes, for example, but the adaptation must take different genetic paths to get there.
"This is a new phenomenon that our findings have helped reveal," Storz said. His team continues to explore historical influences on genetic adaptation.
- Science Daily
What it means is therefore on you to discover, Mendel the Junior, but it looks like the topic of convergent evolution just graduated from high school and got a new lease on being interesting.
The research did go back to review the genetics of the bird progenitors but modeling with that genome confirmed the highly variable nature of bringing high-altitude tolerance to those original species. Something which seems intuitive is birds evolved for existence in the mountains long after there were bird species just about everywhere else thus explaining why the genetic kit was not already present in them. However, it doesn't explain why the problem was solved in so many different ways and that likely will keep Junior Mendels busy for quite some time yet.
In many ways, the Jetsons we were 'promised' as kids never showed but we got Jetsons in abundance in genetics. My ol' Dad was such a genius in the field but I've still no doubt he would be dazzled by the research taking place now. There's no clever sci fi extension we try to bring to this because they're already doing it.
We do have this much since this evidence shows there are many ways to solve the same problem genetically this presumably gives encouragement that creating artificial genetics to accomplish any specific thing may have many more solutions than are immediately apparent.
(Ed: oh joy, so building a RoboCop may not be that difficult?)
Perhaps not if there are multiple ways to make one since that increases the chances of inadvertently clodding into at least one of them. Perhaps it's not so long until RoboCop Birdman who 'floats like a butterfly but chews your face off like a high-altitude vulture.'
(Ed: thanks. I feel better already.)
I thought you might. I'm sure I do.
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