Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Genetics of Speciation

Genetics of Speciation

Speciation is the evolutionary process resulting in the formation of new, distinct species—groups of reproductively isolated populations.

Speciation Rates

Speciation Rates

Formation of Species

Formation of Species

Speciation describes the formation of one or more new species from one or sometimes multiple original species. The resulting species are discrete from the parent species, and barriers to reproduction will typically exist. There are two primary mechanisms, speciation with and without geographic isolation—allopatric and sympatric speciation, respectively.

Gene Flow

Gene Flow

Gene flow is the transfer of genes among populations, resulting from either the dispersal of gametes or from the migration of individuals.

Mutation, Gene Flow, and Genetic Drift

Mutation, Gene Flow, and Genetic Drift

In a population that is not at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, the frequency of alleles changes over time. Therefore, any deviations from the five conditions of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium can alter the genetic variation of a given population. Conditions that change the genetic variability of a population include mutations, natural selection, non-random mating, gene flow, and genetic drift (small population size).

The Evidence for Evolution

The Evidence for Evolution

Genetic variations accumulating within populations over generations give rise to biological evolution. Evolutionary changes can result in the formation of novel varieties and entire new species. These changes are responsible for the diverse forms of life inhabiting the planet. The evidence for evolution suggests that all living organisms descended from common ancestors.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

The Vertebrate Genomes Project Phase I: A global reference genome resource.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Same author

Competing models of hominin body size evolution.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026

Same author

Bipedalism and brain expansion explain human handedness.

PLoS biology·2026

Same author

Faster speciating cacti have faster evolving flowers.

Biology letters·2026

Same author

CactEcoDB: Trait, spatial, environmental, phylogenetic and diversification data for the cactus family.

Scientific data·2026

Same author

Reply to Compton et al.: Another paradoxical misunderstanding.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026

Same journal

The host-microbiome dimension of ecological regime shifts.

Trends in ecology & evolution·2026

Same journal

The emerging field of wild animal welfare science.

Trends in ecology & evolution·2026

Same journal

Integrating nutritional mutualists into the evolution of defense.

Trends in ecology & evolution·2026

Same journal

Formation of three great Asian plateaus, climate change, and biodiversity: (Trends Ecol. Evol. 40, 970-982; 2025).

Trends in ecology & evolution·2026

Same journal

Digital twins as a tool for ecosystem research.

Trends in ecology & evolution·2026

Same journal

Constraint and convergence in the evolution of vertebrate sound production.

Trends in ecology & evolution·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Videos

Speciation as an active force in promoting genetic evolution.

Chris Venditti¹, Mark Pagel

¹School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6BX, UK.

Trends in Ecology & Evolution

|September 2, 2009

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Speciation events can accelerate genetic evolution, challenging gradual models. This study explores mechanisms and detection of rapid molecular evolution during speciation.

Related Experiment Videos

Area of Science:

Evolutionary Biology
Molecular Evolution
Genomics

Background:

Growing evidence suggests speciation alters molecular evolution rates.
Increased genetic evolution and genomic disruption are linked to speciation.
This contrasts with gradual models of molecular evolution.

Purpose of the Study:

Investigate speciation as a driver of molecular evolution.
Explore mechanisms behind accelerated evolution post-speciation.
Examine the footprint of speciation on genetic divergence.

Main Methods:

Analysis of molecular phylogenies to detect evolutionary rate changes.
Investigating genomic disruption's role in reproductive isolation.
Developing methods to detect accelerated evolution in neutral and adaptive gene regions.

Main Results:

Molecular phylogenies often show accelerated genetic evolution near speciation.
Genomic disruptions can be key factors in reproductive isolation.
Methods can distinguish accelerated bursts in different gene regions.

Conclusions:

Speciation can be a special time for genes, driving rapid molecular evolution.
Ephemeral events, not just gradual selection, may cause reproductive isolation.
Rapid evolutionary episodes challenge conventional molecular evolution models.