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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.
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.
Speciation Rates01:07

Speciation Rates

Overview
Gene Flow02:39

Gene Flow

Gene flow is the transfer of genes among populations, resulting from either the dispersal of gametes or from the migration of individuals.
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 Duplication and Divergence02:37

Gene Duplication and Divergence

The seminal work of Ohno in 1970 popularized the idea of gene duplication and divergence. DNA sequence comparison studies reveal that a large portion of the genes in bacteria, archaebacteria, and eukaryotes was  generated by gene duplication and divergence, indicating its critical role in evolution.
The duplicated copies of the gene are called Paralogs. Paralogs with similar sequences and functions form a gene family. Across several species, a large number of gene families are characterized.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 7, 2026

Adaptation at the Extremes of Life: Experimental Evolution with the Extremophile Archaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius
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Adaptation at the Extremes of Life: Experimental Evolution with the Extremophile Archaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius

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Genomic divergence during speciation driven by adaptation to altitude.

Mark A Chapman1, Simon J Hiscock, Dmitry A Filatov

  • 1Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.

Molecular Biology and Evolution
|October 1, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Natural selection on a few genes drives species formation, even with gene flow. This study shows how limited genetic changes can lead to distinct plant species adapting to different environments.

Keywords:
adaptationdemographyecological speciationhybrid zonetranscriptomics

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Genomics
  • Speciation research

Background:

  • Darwin's theory highlights natural selection in species formation, but its role in creating distinct species is unclear.
  • The genetic mechanisms driving genomewide divergence from selection at a few genes remain poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate the genomic basis of recent plant ecological speciation.
  • Understand how adaptation to contrasting environments drives species formation and divergence.

Main Methods:

  • Analyzed DNA polymorphism and gene expression using high-throughput transcriptome sequencing.
  • Studied two distinct plant species, Senecio aethnensis and S. chrysanthemifolius, with a hybrid zone.

Main Results:

  • Only 90 out of ~18,000 genes showed differential expression, but these had high species differentiation.
  • Genomewide differentiation was low (FST = 0.19), yet ~200 genes showed significant interspecific differentiation and local adaptation.
  • Diversifying selection at a small number of loci appears sufficient for species distinctiveness.

Conclusions:

  • A small number of genes under diversifying selection can drive the formation and maintenance of distinct species.
  • This explains how closely related species can remain phenotypically and ecologically distinct despite hybridization and gene flow.