Question

Single step large mutation leading to speciation is

• A. Founder effect
• B. Adaptive radiation
• C. Saltation
• D. Branching descent
• E. Natural selection

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

Saltation

• The founder effect is the loss of genetic variation that occurs when a new population is established by a very small number of individuals from a larger population.
  
• Adaptive radiation is a process in which organisms diversify rapidly from an ancestral species into a multitude of new forms, particularly when a change in the environment makes new resources available, creates new challenges, or opens new environmental niches.

• Saltation is a sudden change from one generation to the next, that is large, or very large, in comparison with the usual variation of an organism. The term is used for nongradual changes (especially single-step), Hence the term used is a large mutation.
• Branching descent is defined as a process by which new species originate from a single common descent ( i.e. that species).
• Natural selection is the differential survival and reproduction of individuals due to differences in phenotype.

So, the correct answer is 'Saltation'.