Question

The first step in speciation will be

• A. Genetic drift
• B. Apomictic mating
• C. Geographical environmental isolation
• D. All of the above

Answer 1

The correct option is C Geographical environmental isolation

Speciation, or the evolution of reproductive isolation, occurs as a by-product of genetic changes that accumulate between two previously interbreeding populations of the same species.

The steps in speciation are-

1) Geographical or temporal separation of populations.

2) Evolution of hybrid sterility.

3) Evolution of isolating mechanisms.

4) Reproductive isolation.

At some point in this process, some of these genetic changes cause the two populations to become reproductively isolated from each other. These specific genetic differences that confer reproductive isolation are called as reproductive isolating mechanisms.