Question

(a) Define 'speciation'. Explain how speciation occurs.

Answer 1

Definition of speciation:

• The process by which new species develop from the existing species is known as speciation.

Process of speciation:

• Speciation occurs when the population of species are separated into two group which then get isolated from each other geographically by the barriers such as mountains, rivers, or seas.
• The geographical isolation of the two groups of population leads to their reproductive isolation due to which no genes are exchanged between them.
• But breeding continues within the isolated populations producing more and more generations.
• Over the generations, the process of genetic drift will accumulated different changes in each sub population.
• Also natural selection may also operate differently for different population and selecting the new variety that fits to the environment. Thus, eventually new species are formed.