6.3.5

Speciation

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Speciation

Individuals are members of the same species if they can interbreed (breed amongst themselves) to produce fertile offspring. A scientist called Alfred Wallace proposed that new species develop as follows:

Illustrative background for Geographical isolationIllustrative background for Geographical isolation ?? "content

Geographical isolation

  • Two populations of the same species become geographically isolated (separated).
Illustrative background for Genetic variationIllustrative background for Genetic variation ?? "content

Genetic variation

  • The populations exhibit (show) genetic variation.
Illustrative background for Natural selectionIllustrative background for Natural selection ?? "content

Natural selection

  • Due to differing environments and selection pressures, natural selection (survival of the fittest) operates differently on the populations.
Illustrative background for Genetic divergenceIllustrative background for Genetic divergence ?? "content

Genetic divergence

  • This eventually leads to genetic divergence until the populations are unable to interbreed to produce fertile offspring.
  • At this point, they have become two different species.

Jump to other topics

1Cell Biology

1.1What's in Cells?

1.2Cell Division

1.3Transport in Cells

2Organisation

2.1Principles of Organisation

2.2Enzymes

2.3Circulatory System

2.4Non-Communicable Diseases

2.5Plant Tissues, Organs & Systems

3Infection & Response

4Bioenergetics

5Homeostasis & Response

5.1Homeostasis

5.2The Human Nervous System

5.3Hormonal Coordination in Humans

5.4Plant Hormones

6Inheritance, Variation & Evolution

7Ecology

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