7.2.1 Populations

• Population = a group of organisms of the same species occupying a particular space at a particular time that can potentially interbreed and produce fertile offspring
• Species = a group of similar organisms that can reproduce to give fertile offspring
• The reason that two organisms from a different species cannot produce fertile offspring is due to the fact that different species have a different diploid number of chromosomes in their cells
• Factors to consider when defining a species:

  • Similarities/differences in observable features (morphology)
  • Similarities/differences in DNA
  • Similarities/differences in RNA
  • Similarities/differences in proteins
  • The ability to interbreed and produce fertile offspring