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beezlebub33 t1_j5jf1c4 wrote

While it's theoretically possible, it's unlikely.

First, organisms evolve based on mutations and differential reproduction, so you would need the same sorts of mutations and the same sort of selection pressures. Both of these are unlikely, the conditions just are not the same. Also, why did D go extinct? Because they died out because of over competition in their niche, some parasite, etc. ; well, it would affect a new D too. And of course mutations are random, so it's pretty much impossible to exactly replay.

That said, we do have lots of examples of convergent evolution, where different organisms have evolved to fill in niches in different areas. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_examples_of_convergent_evolution . Let's say there is a land that doesn't have a large diversity of birds (say, the Galapagos). The first birds that arrive will radiate (diversify through evolution) to fill lots of different niches, such as eating nuts, eating fruits, eating insects, even though they had the same progenitor species. Interestingly, the evolved organisms filling the niche don't do it quite the same way, because evolution adapts what is at hand.

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Omnislayer t1_j5m6o9n wrote

I remember this news article of how a bird "re-evolved" itself. Here It might be similar to what OP said. Though it'll be better to find a scientific article than rely on clickbait news

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espressocycle t1_j5jg4ad wrote

Not to mention if a species became extinct due to natural forces those would preclude evolving into that form in the first place. That wouldn't necessarily apply to human-caused but they are too recent to know.

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