Evolution & Speciation
Biology: AQA GCSE Higher, topic 6.2.2
Evolution and Speciation
Evolution is the gradual change of inherited characteristics of biological populations over time. Speciation happens when two animal populations diverge (separate or split) a lot.
What is speciation?
- Speciation happens when the average phenotypes (observed characteristics) of two populations have diverged (changed) so much that the two populations can no longer breed to produce fertile offspring (offspring that can reproduce).
- Two different species have been formed.
Why does speciation happen?
- Speciation can happen as a result of evolution.
- Natural mutations can create new alleles and two populations can begin to diverge.
Test yourself on Evolution & Speciation
How can natural mutations eventually lead to two populations becoming separate species?
How does speciation differ from evolution?
What is evolution?
Pick the correct statement about evolution and fossils.
Why is the discovery of genes crucial to our current understanding of evolution?