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.

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.

What is a Species?

What is a Species?

Speciation Rates

Speciation Rates

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.

Natural Selection and Mating Preferences

Natural Selection and Mating Preferences

The principle of natural selection posits that organisms better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. This principle is closely intertwined with mating preferences, a key aspect of sexual selection, which evolutionary psychologists believe is driven by instincts to propagate one's genes. Such instincts significantly influence mating behaviors and preferences between genders.
Females, due to their biological roles in conception, pregnancy, and nursing,...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

Comparing Activation Typicality and Sparsity in a Deep CNN to Predict Facial Beauty.

Computational brain & behavior·2026

Same author

The origin, genomics and evolution of female-limited polymorphisms.

Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences·2026

Same author

Drab cuckoos retain the melanosome types of brilliantly coloured relatives.

Journal of the Royal Society, Interface·2026

Same author

A career in pursuit of the origin of species: celebrating Roger Butlin's contributions to the advancement of knowledge and growth of our scientific community.

Journal of evolutionary biology·2026

Same author

Genomic analyses in <i>Drosophila</i> do not support the classic allopatric model of speciation.

Evolution letters·2026

Same author

Linked song and preference loci suggest substantial contribution of genetic coupling in the rapid speciation of the Laupala crickets.

Genetics·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 3, 2025

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

How Important Is Sexual Isolation to Speciation?

Kerry L Shaw¹, Christopher R Cooney², Tamra C Mendelson³

¹Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA kls4@cornell.edu.

Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology

|February 12, 2024

Summary

Sexual isolation is key to speciation, but its role relative to other reproductive barriers needs more study. This research evaluates sexual isolation

More Related Videos

Isolation of Drosophila melanogaster Testes

Isolation of Drosophila melanogaster Testes

Published on: May 13, 2011

Assessment of Sexual Behavior of Male Mice

Assessment of Sexual Behavior of Male Mice

Published on: March 5, 2020

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 3, 2025

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

Isolation of Drosophila melanogaster Testes

Isolation of Drosophila melanogaster Testes

Published on: May 13, 2011

Assessment of Sexual Behavior of Male Mice

Assessment of Sexual Behavior of Male Mice

Published on: March 5, 2020

Area of Science:

Evolutionary Biology
Speciation Research
Behavioral Ecology

Background:

Sexual isolation is recognized as a significant factor in speciation since Darwin.
Its precise role and timing relative to other reproductive barriers remain under-investigated in many taxa.

Purpose of the Study:

To objectively evaluate the importance of sexual isolation in speciation.
To compare sexual isolation with other reproductive barriers across different stages of divergence.

Main Methods:

Assessing the evolutionary rate of sexual trait differentiation.
Quantifying the strength of sexual isolation in sympatric species.
Analyzing the impact of sexual isolation on long-term species persistence.

Main Results:

Evidence is examined for sexual isolation evolving faster than other barriers in early divergence.
The strength of sexual isolation is compared to other barriers in closely related sympatric species.
The contribution of sexual isolation to species persistence is evaluated relative to other barriers.

Conclusions:

Further research is needed to fully understand sexual isolation's role throughout the speciation process.
Challenges and opportunities exist for improving our knowledge of sexual isolation's impact on species formation.