parallel evolution

noun

1. the independent development of closely corresponding adaptive features in two or more groups of organisms that occupy different but equivalent habitats, as marsupial mammals in Australia and placental mammals on other continents.

Word History and Origins

Origin of parallel evolution¹

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

That parallel evolution creates the illusion that the two lineages are closely related.

From New York Times

The other scenario, Rutherford explained, is that omicron had a "parallel evolution track" — from infecting animals from a human and then back to humans — that could have caused all of its mutations.

From Salon

Braun says that the data can be used to better understand everything from the parallel evolution of flightlessness in ratites like emus and kiwis to the evolution of vision and song learning in birds overall.

From Washington Post

Strikingly, half of the changes were shared by the rabbits in all three countries—evidence of parallel evolution.

From Science Magazine

But in contrast to the parallel evolution in rabbits, myxoma viruses in the various locations took different genetic paths to regaining potency.

From Science Magazine