Speciation

• How is a species defined?

  A group of genetically similar organisms
• What does speciation mean?

  Formation of a new species
• What happens when populations of the same species become different?

  They can no longer interbreed
• What are the two main factors that contribute to speciation?

  Isolation and natural selection
• What is isolation in the context of speciation?

  A physical barrier separating populations
• What can serve as a physical barrier for isolation?

  A new river or mountain range
• How does the environment affect speciation through isolation?

  • Different environments lead to different selection pressures
  • Traits become more favorable in each population
  • Natural selection causes different characteristics to emerge
• What happens to populations after many generations of isolation?

  They become genetically, physically, and behaviorally different
• What indicates that speciation has occurred?

  Populations can no longer interbreed
• What are the key steps in the process of speciation?

  1. Isolation by physical barriers
  2. Different environments on either side
  3. Different selection pressures
  4. Natural selection favors different traits
  5. Populations become genetically distinct
  6. Inability to interbreed indicates speciation