Exaptation
Exaptation is a concept in evolutionary biology that describes how a trait or feature originally evolved for one purpose can be repurposed or co-opted for a different function over time. This process plays a significant role in understanding how complex traits and structures develop in organisms.
It differs slightly from adaption: While adaptation is shaped by natural selection for its current use, exaptation involves the co-option of a trait for a new use, either from a previous function or from no apparent use.
Exaptation potentially explaining how many beneficial traits initially emerged. It has been applied to the study of technological history, as humans often repurpose objects or processes for new uses.
Examples of Exaptation
- Feathers: Originally evolved for heat regulation in dinosaurs, feathers were later co-opted for display and eventually flight in birds.
- Fish Lungs: Evolved into lungs for terrestrial vertebrates but also became the gas bladder for buoyancy control in derived fish.
- Mammalian Ear Bones: Two bones from the reptilian jaw were repurposed to become the malleus and incus in the mammalian ear.
- Arthropod Exoskeletons: Originally adapted for aquatic life, these structures pre-adapted arthropods for colonizing land.
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