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Genetics of Speciation

Genetics of Speciation

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

Speciation Rates

Speciation Rates

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.

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.

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).

What is a Species?

What is a Species?

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 29, 2025

Genetic Mapping of Thermotolerance Differences Between Species of Saccharomyces Yeast via Genome-Wide Reciprocal Hemizygosity Analysis

Genetic Mapping of Thermotolerance Differences Between Species of Saccharomyces Yeast via Genome-Wide Reciprocal Hemizygosity Analysis

Published on: August 12, 2019

Linking phenotypic variation to patterns of genetic isolation along a speciation continuum.

Sabrina Heiser^1,2, Charles D Amsler¹, Andrew J Shilling³

¹Department of Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.

Journal of Phycology

|February 7, 2025

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Two distinct species of Antarctic Plocamium algae were discovered co-occurring on the western Antarctic Peninsula. These genetically divergent entities exhibit differences in reproductive traits and chemical compounds, indicating early evolutionary divergence.

Keywords:

Antarctica Rhodophyta arms race coevolution macroalgae marine sympatry

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Published on: February 3, 2023

Area of Science:

Evolutionary Biology
Marine Biology
Speciation Research

Background:

Understanding species divergence requires studying taxa at various evolutionary stages.
The red macroalgal genus Plocamium is recognized for its hidden genetic and chemical diversity.
Previous research in Antarctica treated two Plocamium haplotypes as a single species.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the genetic divergence of Plocamium in Antarctica.
To determine if previously identified haplotypes represent distinct species.
To explore the eco-evolutionary forces driving speciation in Antarctic Plocamium.

Main Methods:

Analysis of 10 microsatellite loci to assess genetic divergence.
Comparison of reproductive structure morphology and timing between genetic entities.
Identification of chemical diversity within the studied Plocamium populations.

Main Results:

Two highly divergent, co-occurring genetic entities of Antarctic Plocamium were identified.
Significant differences in reproductive morphology and timing were observed between these entities.
Evidence of high selfing rates and concomitant chemodiversity suggests early evolutionary divergence.

Conclusions:

Two distinct Antarctic Plocamium species likely exist on the western Antarctic Peninsula.
Reproductive isolation and chemical diversity may be key drivers of divergence.
Antarctic Plocamium serves as a valuable model for studying the initiation of species boundaries.