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Related Concept Videos

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.

Speciation Rates

Speciation Rates

Genetics of Speciation

Genetics of Speciation

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

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.

Hybrid Zones

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 Divergence

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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 25, 2026

Determination of the Mating Efficiency of Haploids in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Determination of the Mating Efficiency of Haploids in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Published on: December 2, 2022

Speciation as a sieve for ancestral polymorphism.

Rafael F Guerrero¹, Matthew W Hahn^1,2

¹Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA.

Molecular Ecology

|August 10, 2017

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Balanced polymorphisms, though rare, significantly impact genetic diversity and species divergence. Speciation can unevenly distribute these polymorphisms, creating misleading signatures in genomic studies.

Keywords:

allopatric speciation balancing selection differential gene flow genomic divergence

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Area of Science:

Evolutionary genetics
Population genetics
Genomics

Background:

Balanced polymorphisms are often overlooked in genome-wide variation studies due to their perceived rarity.
However, sustained balancing selection can increase genetic diversity and influence interspecies divergence.

Discussion:

The speciation process can act as a sieve, unequally partitioning ancestral balanced polymorphisms across descendant lineages.
Genomic regions exhibiting high divergence post-speciation can indicate ancestral balancing selection.

Key Insights:

Ancestral balanced polymorphisms, when unevenly distributed by speciation, leave signatures that mimic other evolutionary forces.
This can complicate the interpretation of population divergence and the identification of "islands of speciation."

Outlook:

Recognizing these signatures is crucial for accurate genomic analyses of population divergence.
Further research can refine methods to distinguish balancing selection from other drivers of divergence.