Question

What is meant by speciation ? list four factors that could lead to speciations.Which of these cannot be a major factors in the speciation of a self pollinating plant species. Give reason to justify your answer.

Answer 1

The process of splitting a genetically homogeneous population into two or more populations that undergo genetic differentiation eventual reproductive isolation is called speciation. Factors that cause speciation are :

1. Gene flow between the populations of one species is restricted to allow them to diverge.

2. A component of the divergence produces a complete barrier to inter-breeding, called a mating isolation mechanism.

3. The initial barrier can be either spatial or temporal.

4. Changing climate may isolate population on mountain peaks or in remnant lakes, or rare migrants may colonize new areas such as the Galapagos and Hawaiian islands.