What are the ways speciation can occur?
1 Answer
Species are that group of individuals that are similar in all essential characteristics, that are interfertile, and that reproduce fertile individuals similar to themselves.
Explanation:
Modern genetics has demonstrated that species are dynamic groups, Speciation is the result of changes or alterations in the genetic material.
These genetic changes may be due to variation in the number of chromosomes (polyploidy, translocation), mutation in single genes or alterations in the order of genes.
Polyploidy is the possession of three or more complete haploid sets of chromosomes; a condition common in plants, but very rare in animals. Triploid sets have three sets of chromosomes, tetraploid have four sets etc.
Translocation is when the number of chromosomes change without changing the total amount of genetic material. Example: exchange of genetic material between two non-homologous chromosomes.
