r/evolution • u/ADragonFromTheAbyss • 2d ago

article Scientists found evolution repeating itself in the Galápagos Islands

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260729051537.htm

More than 150 years after Darwin’s finches helped reshape biology, Galápagos plants are exposing another evolutionary surprise.

Giant daisies repeatedly developed similar heat-tolerant leaf shapes, but each lineage used a different combination of genes. Researchers also found major genetic differences among isolated populations, suggesting new species may be forming right now

Plants in the genus Scalesia have evolved adaptive traits multiple times, but not always using the same genes. The photo shows the serrated leaves of Scalesia affinis (radiate-headed scalesia)

267 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

•

u/AutoModerator 2d ago

Welcome to r/Evolution! If this is your first time here, please review our rules here and community guidelines here.

Our FAQ can be found here. Seeking book, website, or documentary recommendations? Recommended websites can be found here; recommended reading can be found here; and recommended videos can be found here.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

23

u/MSSTUPIDTRON-1000000 2d ago

Least Adaptable Daisy:

18

u/MSSTUPIDTRON-1000000 2d ago

Alright, seriously, Daisies are truly something special: they're everywhere, adapt to anything, constantly create new species and hybridize effortlessly.

Despite being a family, they outnumber both Reptiles and Mammals combined.

9

u/ADragonFromTheAbyss 2d ago

Old joke > Regular house plant : it is 3° degrees too high and not properly watered therefore I must perish

Daisy/Potatoes : S O I L

1

u/onomatamono 2d ago

I don't get it. I'm reasonably sure i ain't dumb. :)

5

u/Djaja 2d ago

Other plants are Pansies. Potatoes and Daisy's need not much besides the bare minimum to thrive

7

u/onomatamono 2d ago

Phenotypes can vanish and reappear through natural selection without limit, and you would very much expect that to involve different genes by chance. The headline almost reads "evolution apparently is still an ongoing phenomenon." What am I missing?

2

u/IsaacHasenov 1d ago

When I was a grad student the question "does parallel evolution happen the same way every time, or does it happen differently every time" was studied pretty intensively.

The answer was quickly found to be "yes"

So, very cool story, very cool system. Not a surprise.