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Related Concept Videos

Formation of Species01:31

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.Allopatric SpeciationIn allopatric speciation, gene flow between two populations of the same species is prevented by a geographic barrier, like...
Speciation Rates01:07

Speciation Rates

Speciation can proceed at markedly different rates, and evolutionary biologists commonly describe these differences through the models of gradualism and punctuated equilibrium. Both patterns explain how new species arise, but they differ in the tempo and continuity of evolutionary change. In both cases, evolutionary change arises from heritable variation within populations, with natural selection often shaping traits that improve survival and reproduction under specific environmental conditions.
Genetics of Speciation02:16

Genetics of Speciation

Speciation is the evolutionary process resulting in the formation of new, distinct species—groups of reproductively isolated populations.The genetics of speciation involves the different traits or isolating mechanisms preventing gene exchange, leading to reproductive isolation. Reproductive isolation can be due to reproductive barriers that have effects either before or after the formation of a zygote. Pre-zygotic mechanisms prevent fertilization from occurring, and post-zygotic mechanisms...
Understanding Species and Reproductive Barriers01:17

Understanding Species and Reproductive Barriers

A species is a group of organisms that interbreed and produce fertile offspring. Typically, individuals of the same species appear similar and share common characteristics due to their highly similar genomes. However, not all organisms that look alike are members of the same species. Various mechanisms keep most species discrete. While some mechanisms prevent reproductive behavior and fertilization (pre-zygotic isolation), others prevent the production of fertile offspring after mating has...
Hybrid Zones02:29

Hybrid Zones

Hybrid zones are narrow regions where two closely related species interact, mate, and produce hybrids. Relative to either parent species, hybrids may possess distinct phenotypic or genetic differences that impact their survival and reproductive success. The genetic variances introduced by hybridization influence species diversity and speciation processes within the hybrid zone.Gene flow and natural selection are evolutionary mechanisms that shape the outcome of a hybrid zone. Gene flow...
Synteny and Evolution02:31

Synteny and Evolution

John H. Renwick first coined the term “synteny” in 1971, which refers to the genes present on the same chromosomes, even if they are not genetically linked. The species with common ancestry tend to show conserved syntenic regions. Therefore, the concept of synteny is nowadays used to describe the evolutionary relationship between species.
Around 80 million years ago, the human and mice lineages diverged from the common ancestor. During the course of evolution, the ancestral chromosome underwent...

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Determination of the Mating Efficiency of Haploids in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
05:39

Determination of the Mating Efficiency of Haploids in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Published on: December 2, 2022

Space, sympatry and speciation.

J Mallet1, A Meyer, P Nosil

  • 1Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin, Institute for Advanced Study Berlin, Germany. j.mallet@ucl.ac.uk

Journal of Evolutionary Biology
|September 8, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Sympatric speciation, the formation of new species in the same geographic area, is redefined spatially. This new definition, incorporating dispersal, makes sympatric speciation more likely than previous models.

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Population Genetics
  • Speciation Research

Background:

  • Sympatric speciation, the development of new species within the same geographic area, is a contentious topic in evolutionary biology.
  • The traditional definition of sympatry (sharing a geographic area) has been superseded by a non-spatial definition requiring panmixia (random mating) between populations before reproductive isolation.
  • This shift complicates the study of natural speciation, blurring the lines between geographic overlap and complete isolation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose a more precise, spatially-explicit definition of sympatric speciation.
  • To re-evaluate the likelihood of sympatric speciation under different spatial and genetic models.
  • To address the ongoing debate regarding the role of geographic overlap versus isolation in natural speciation.

Main Methods:

  • Incorporating the population genetics of dispersal (cruising range) into a spatial definition of sympatry.
  • Analyzing the structuring effects of distance on gene flow, even at small spatial scales.
  • Examining ecological adaptation as a 'magic trait' influencing gene flow reduction.

Main Results:

  • The proposed spatial definition significantly increases the likelihood of sympatric speciation compared to the demic (non-spatial) definition.
  • Distance itself acts as a powerful factor in structuring populations and reducing gene flow.
  • Ecological adaptation in two-dimensional space can function as a 'magic trait,' driving pleiotropic reductions in gene flow.

Conclusions:

  • A spatially-explicit definition of sympatry is crucial for understanding natural speciation processes.
  • Dispersal and distance play a significant role in facilitating sympatric speciation.
  • Ecological adaptation is a key mechanism driving reproductive isolation in sympatric populations.