Changes

===Divergent Evolution and Speciation===

===Divergent Evolution and Speciation===

If different selective pressures are placed on a particular organism, a wide variety of adaptive traits may result. If only one structure on the organism is considered, these changes can either add to the original function of the structure, or they can change it completely. Divergent evolution leads to speciation, or the development of a new species. Divergence can occur when looking at any group of related organisms. The differences are produced from the different selective pressures. Any genus of plants or animals can show divergent evolution. An example can involve the diversity of floral types in the orchids. The greater the number of differences present, the greater the divergence. Scientists speculate the greater that two similar species diverge indicates a longer length of time that the divergence originally took place.

If different selective pressures are placed on a particular organism, a wide variety of adaptive traits are said to result. If only one structure on the organism is considered, these changes are said to either add to the original function of the structure, or change it completely. By this means, divergent evolution is said to lead to speciation, or the development of a new species. Divergence can be invoked when looking at any group of related organisms. The differences are said to be produced from the different selective pressures. Any genus of plants or animals can be said to show divergent evolution. An example can involve the diversity of floral types in the orchids. The greater the number of differences present, the greater the claimed divergence. Scientists speculate the greater the difference between two similar species the longer length of time that the divergence originally took place.

===Examples of Divergent Evolution===

===Examples of Divergent Evolution===