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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:

Geographical isolation

Geographical isolation

  • Two populations of the same species become geographically isolated (separated).
Genetic variation

Genetic variation

  • The populations exhibit (show) genetic variation.
Natural selection

Natural selection

  • Due to differing environments and selection pressures, natural selection (survival of the fittest) operates differently on the populations.
Genetic divergence

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.
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1

Cell Biology

1.1

What's in Cells?

1.2

Cell Division

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Transport in Cells

2

Organisation

2.1

Principles of Organisation

2.2

Enzymes

2.3

Circulatory System

2.4

Non-Communicable Diseases

2.5

Plant Tissues, Organs & Systems

3

Infection & Response

4

Bioenergetics

5

Homeostasis & Response

5.1

Homeostasis

5.2

The Human Nervous System

5.3

Hormonal Coordination in Humans

5.4

Plant Hormones

6

Inheritance, Variation & Evolution

6.1

Reproduction

6.2

Variation & Evolution

6.3

Genetics & Evolution

6.4

Classification

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Ecology

7.1

Adaptations & Interdependence

7.2

Organisation of Ecosystems

7.3

Biodiversity

7.4

Trophic Levels

7.5

Food Production

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