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Speciation Rates

Speciation Rates

Genetic Drift

Genetic Drift

Natural selection—probably the most well-known evolutionary mechanism—increases the prevalence of traits that enhance survival and reproduction. However, evolution does not merely propagate favorable traits, nor does it always benefit populations.

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).

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.

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.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 20, 2025

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations

Published on: February 3, 2023

System drift and speciation.

Joshua S Schiffman^1,2,3, Peter L Ralph^3,4,5

¹New York Genome Center, New York, New York 10013.

Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution

|September 16, 2021

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Evolutionary systems drift explores how gene networks can change while conserving phenotypes. This exploration of equivalent mechanisms can lead to reproductive incompatibility and speciation, explaining Haldane

Keywords:

Genetic drift models/simulations speciation

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Last Updated: Oct 20, 2025

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations

Published on: February 3, 2023

Resurrection of Dormant Daphnia magna: Protocol and Applications

Resurrection of Dormant Daphnia magna: Protocol and Applications

Published on: January 19, 2018

Sample Drift Correction Following 4D Confocal Time-lapse Imaging

Sample Drift Correction Following 4D Confocal Time-lapse Imaging

Published on: April 12, 2014

Area of Science:

Evolutionary biology
Systems biology
Genetics

Background:

Phenotypes can be conserved despite underlying genetic changes.
Distinct molecular pathways can produce identical phenotypes.
Understanding the evolution of gene networks is crucial for evolutionary theory.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore how gene networks evolve under conserved phenotypes using linear system theory.
To investigate the consequences of genetic drift on molecular pathways.
To model the emergence of reproductive incompatibility from evolving mechanisms.

Main Methods:

Modeling organisms' internal states as linear systems of differential equations.
Using environmental input and phenotypic output to define mechanisms.
Characterizing the set of all mechanisms yielding identical input-output relationships.

Main Results:

Identified selectively neutral directions in genotype space.
Demonstrated that evolutionary exploration of equivalent mechanisms can cause reproductive incompatibility.
Showed system drift rate is proportional to genetic variation divided by effective population size.
Predicted speciation on a timescale of generations at biologically reasonable parameters.

Conclusions:

Conserved phenotypes can mask underlying evolutionary changes in gene networks.
System drift provides a mechanism for rapid speciation and explains Haldane's rule.
The model offers a concrete explanation for hybrid inviability patterns in early speciation.