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Convergent Evolution: Limited Forms Most Beautiful
An analysis of convergent evolution from molecules to ecosystems, demonstrating the limited number of evolutionary pathways available to life.
Charles Darwin famously concluded On the Origin of Species with a vision of "endless forms most beautiful" continually evolving. More than 150 years later many evolutionary biologists see not endless forms but the same, or very similar, forms evolving repeatedly in many independent species lineages. A porpoise's fishlike fins, for example, are not inherited from fish ancestors but are independently derived convergent traits. In this book, George McGhee describes the ubiquity of the phenomenon of convergent evolution and connects it directly to the concept of evolutionary constraint--the idea that the number of evolutionary pathways available to life are not endless, but quite limited.
Convergent evolution occurs on all levels, from tiny organic molecules to entire ecosystems of species. McGhee demonstrates its ubiquity in animals, both herbivore and carnivore; in plants; in ecosystems; in molecules, including DNA, proteins, and enzymes; and even in minds, describing problem-solving behavior and group behavior as the products of convergence. For each species example, he provides an abbreviated list of the major nodes in its phylogenetic classification, allowing the reader to see the evolutionary relationship of a group of species that have independently evolved a similar trait by convergent evolution. McGhee analyzes the role of functional and developmental constraints in producing convergent evolution, and considers the scientific and philosophical implications of convergent evolution for the predictability of the evolutionary process.
Charles Darwin famously concluded On the Origin of Species with a vision of "endless forms most beautiful" continually evolving. More than 150 years later many evolutionary biologists see not endless forms but the same, or very similar, forms evolving repeatedly in many independent species lineages. A porpoise's fishlike fins, for example, are not inherited from fish ancestors but are independently derived convergent traits. In this book, George McGhee describes the ubiquity of the phenomenon of convergent evolution and connects it directly to the concept of evolutionary constraint--the idea that the number of evolutionary pathways available to life are not endless, but quite limited.
Convergent evolution occurs on all levels, from tiny organic molecules to entire ecosystems of species. McGhee demonstrates its ubiquity in animals, both herbivore and carnivore; in plants; in ecosystems; in molecules, including DNA, proteins, and enzymes; and even in minds, describing problem-solving behavior and group behavior as the products of convergence. For each species example, he provides an abbreviated list of the major nodes in its phylogenetic classification, allowing the reader to see the evolutionary relationship of a group of species that have independently evolved a similar trait by convergent evolution. McGhee analyzes the role of functional and developmental constraints in producing convergent evolution, and considers the scientific and philosophical implications of convergent evolution for the predictability of the evolutionary process.
336 pages, Paperback
First published October 24, 2011
About the author
George R. McGhee
7 books4 followersGeorge McGhee is Distinguished Professor of Paleobiology in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Rutgers University and a Member of the Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research in Klosterneuburg, Austria. He is the author of Convergent Evolution: Limited Forms Most Beautiful (MIT Press)
Also published as George R. McGhee Jr.
Also published as George R. McGhee Jr.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 12, 2019
The book has many interesting insights but it could be structured better.
Despite the issues, the book does provide a lot of insight. Chapters 2 and 3 list numerous examples of convergent evolution. Chapter 4 takes a detour from the central thesis of the book to talk about convergences of niches. The chapter covers some amazing examples of different types of animals evolving to pick up similar "ecological roles" in different isolated environments.
Chapter 5 builds the central thesis about developmental constraints causing convergent evolution by talking about convergence at the molecular level. If only very limited things are possible at the DNA/protein level and that's where the mutations begin, then evolution as a whole is limited on what solutions can naturally be explored.
Chapter 7 introduces the idea of a morphospace to help think about forms that should be possible but are missing in nature. I found the idea of a morphospace to be fascinating and using it to discuss what was "missing" was interesting as well.
One of the issues of the book is that it refuses to use any images/figures throughout the book. There are many physical similarities between different species that are described but there are no pictures/drawings of these species or specific features. Many complex processes are also described but again the book refuses to illustrate these processes to help the reader.
Secondly, the discussion about parallel evolution feels insufficient. In the introduction, the book claims that it will not make a distinction between parallel evolution and convergent evolution but then it frequently points out when an example falls under parallel or convergent evolution. By the end of the book, I feel uncertain about what the book is saying about parallel evolution. The central thesis of the book seems to be that the developmental constraints play a central role in the frequency of convergent evolution. However, its unclear what that means for parallel evolution. Does this mean that all examples of convergent evolution are simply parallel evolution since the structure of DNA puts shared fundamental restrictions on evolution.
Despite the issues, the book does provide a lot of insight. Chapters 2 and 3 list numerous examples of convergent evolution. Chapter 4 takes a detour from the central thesis of the book to talk about convergences of niches. The chapter covers some amazing examples of different types of animals evolving to pick up similar "ecological roles" in different isolated environments.
Chapter 5 builds the central thesis about developmental constraints causing convergent evolution by talking about convergence at the molecular level. If only very limited things are possible at the DNA/protein level and that's where the mutations begin, then evolution as a whole is limited on what solutions can naturally be explored.
Chapter 7 introduces the idea of a morphospace to help think about forms that should be possible but are missing in nature. I found the idea of a morphospace to be fascinating and using it to discuss what was "missing" was interesting as well.
One of the issues of the book is that it refuses to use any images/figures throughout the book. There are many physical similarities between different species that are described but there are no pictures/drawings of these species or specific features. Many complex processes are also described but again the book refuses to illustrate these processes to help the reader.
Secondly, the discussion about parallel evolution feels insufficient. In the introduction, the book claims that it will not make a distinction between parallel evolution and convergent evolution but then it frequently points out when an example falls under parallel or convergent evolution. By the end of the book, I feel uncertain about what the book is saying about parallel evolution. The central thesis of the book seems to be that the developmental constraints play a central role in the frequency of convergent evolution. However, its unclear what that means for parallel evolution. Does this mean that all examples of convergent evolution are simply parallel evolution since the structure of DNA puts shared fundamental restrictions on evolution.
March 16, 2023
Here, McGhee makes a strong case for the opposite of Stephen Jay Gould's take on evolution: rather than a free-flowing, contingency-based force wherein the appearance of animals like us is miraculous, evolution is in reality constrained by laws of nature and even has levels of predictability. 90% of the book establishes the ubiquity of convergent evolution through a series of chapters listing various examples, from anatomical features (wings, fins), to behavioral (eusociality). The remainder discusses what this suggests about life in the universe and, to put it bluntly, the author concludes extraterrestrials may be uncannily familiar looking if we ever see them. McGhee is thorough in his writing. But perhaps a weak point in his arguments is how broadly defined convergences are. For example, "self-awareness", he states, has been confirmed in non-human animals, but this might depend on what specific definition of self-awareness is used. That is an open question I leave for someone who knows more... In sum, a thought-provoking book and I must give a shout-out to whoever designed the cover, it's a favorite of mine.
November 12, 2020
Published in 2011, this book is a fascinating tour through convergent evolution and this review is the first of a three-part dive into what I consider one of evolutionary biology’s most exciting topics. See my full review at https://inquisitivebiologist.com/2020...
February 1, 2023
Conceptually, the best Biology book I’ve ever read.
I could lay down some criticism and praise, but it’s rather technical. For the layman and the biologist alike, it is a must read.
I could lay down some criticism and praise, but it’s rather technical. For the layman and the biologist alike, it is a must read.
August 6, 2013
I found this to be not what I had expected. Instead of clearly thought out arguments about convergence, it is mostly poorly supported descriptions of how groups that superficially resemble each other have converged on what amounts to "ecomorphs". The lists are hardly complete in their vague definitions, and the reasons for inclusion and exclusion are not well supported here.
There are some important concepts brought up, and I worry that these could be completely overlooked if one takes it all at face value.
There are some important concepts brought up, and I worry that these could be completely overlooked if one takes it all at face value.
August 12, 2013
Fascinating compendium hinting at the relationship between convergent evolution and the "deep structure" of biology.
December 17, 2013
A delightful examination of convergent evolution and the boundaries of design space.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews