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When people hear the word "evolution," they most commonly think of divergent evolution<ref> http://bioweb.cs.earlham.edu/9-12/evolution/HTML/converge.html</ref>, the evolutionary pattern in which two species gradually become increasingly different. Divergent evolution refers to a group from a specific population developing into a new species. In order to adapt to various environmental conditions, the two groups are said to develop into distinct species due to differences in the demands driven by the environmental circumstances. On a large scale, divergent evolution is said to be responsible for the creation of the current diversity of life on earth from the first living cells. On a smaller scale, it is claimed to be responsible for the evolution of humans and apes from a common primate ancestor. On a molecular scale, it is what would describe the appearance of new catalytic functions of enzymes and membrane protein topology. <ref>http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=retrieve&db=pubmed&list_uids=11395407&dopt=Abstract</ref> <ref> http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=17552</ref>

When people hear the word "evolution," they most commonly think of divergent evolution<ref> http://bioweb.cs.earlham.edu/9-12/evolution/HTML/converge.html</ref>, the evolutionary pattern in which two species gradually become increasingly different. Divergent evolution refers to a group from a specific population developing into a new species. In order to adapt to various environmental conditions, the two groups are said to develop into distinct species due to differences in the demands driven by the environmental circumstances. On a large scale, divergent evolution is said to be responsible for the creation of the current diversity of life on earth from the first living cells. On a smaller scale, it is claimed to be responsible for the evolution of humans and apes from a common primate ancestor. On a molecular scale, it is what would describe the appearance of new catalytic functions of enzymes and membrane protein topology. <ref>http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=retrieve&db=pubmed&list_uids=11395407&dopt=Abstract</ref> <ref> http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=17552</ref>

===Divergent Evolution and Speciation===

To the extent that divergence only involves a "sorting out" of existing genes, and not the generation of new genetic [[information]], [[creationism|creationists]] agree that divergence occurs.

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.

===Divergence and Speciation===

===Examples of Divergent Evolution===

 

===Examples of Divergence===

There are many examples<ref>http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/290/5491/516</ref> <ref>http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11308083&dopt=Abstract</ref> of divergent evolution in nature. If a freely-interbreeding population on an island is separated by a barrier, such as the presence of a new river, then over time, the organisms may start to diverge. If the opposite ends of the island have different pressures acting upon it, this may result in divergent evolution. Or, if a certain group of birds in a population of other bird of the same species varies from their migratory track due to abnormal wind fluctuations, they may end up in new environment. If the food source is such that only birds of the population with a variant beak are able to feed, then this trait will evolve by virtue of its selective survival advantage. The same species in the original geographical location and having the original food source do not require this beak trait and will, therefore, evolve differently.

There are many examples<ref>http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/290/5491/516</ref> <ref>http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11308083&dopt=Abstract</ref> of divergent evolution in nature. If a freely-interbreeding population on an island is separated by a barrier, such as the presence of a new river, then over time, the organisms may start to diverge. If the opposite ends of the island have different pressures acting upon it, this may result in divergent evolution. Or, if a certain group of birds in a population of other bird of the same species varies from their migratory track due to abnormal wind fluctuations, they may end up in new environment. If the food source is such that only birds of the population with a variant beak are able to feed, then this trait will evolve by virtue of its selective survival advantage. The same species in the original geographical location and having the original food source do not require this beak trait and will, therefore, evolve differently.