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What is meant by the term reproductive isolation? Give several examples.

Short Answer

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Reproductive isolation is a phenomenon preventing different species from interbreeding either before or after the formation of zygote. Examples include frogs with different mating calls [prezygotic] and the sterility of mules [postzygotic].

Step by step solution

01

Define Reproductive Isolation

Reproductive isolation describes a situation where different species may live in the same area, but properties of individuals prevent them from interbreeding. In other words, reproductive isolation is an important part of the process of speciation.
02

Explain the types of Reproductive Isolation

Reproductive isolation can be seen in two main forms namely: \n - Prezygotic isolation, where different species are prevented from mating. This can be due to behavioural, temporal, ecological, mechanical or gametic isolation.\n - Postzygotic isolation, where species can mate, but offspring are not viable or cannot produce offspring.
03

Provide examples of Reproductive Isolation

Different instances of prezygotic and postzygotic reproductive isolation can be seen in nature.\n - An example of prezygotic isolation is the case of the frogs that have different mating calls.\n - An instance of postzygotic isolation includes mules. Mules result from a horse and donkey mating, they are robust animals but they are sterile and cannot produce offspring, removing potential for ongoing gene flow between horses and donkeys.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Discuss the two principles on which evolution is based.

Discuss whether the phenomenon of reproductive isolation applies to bacteria, which reproduce asexually. How would a geneticist divide bacteria into separate species?

Would each of the following examples of reproductive isolation be considered a prezygotic or postzygotic mechanism? A. Horses and donkeys can interbreed to produce mules, but the mules are infertile. B. Three species of the orchid genus Dendrobium produce flowers 8 days, 9 days, and 11 days after a rainstorm. The flowers remain open for 1 day. C. Two species of fish release sperm and eggs into seawater at the same time, but the sperm of one species do not fertilize the eggs of the other species. D. Two tree frogs, Hyla chrysoscelis (diploid) and Hyla versicolor (tetraploid), can produce viable offspring, but the offspring are sterile.

for each of the following examples, discuss whether the observed result is due to neutral mutations or mutations that have been acted on by natural selection, or both: A. When comparing sequences of homologous genes, differences in the coding sequence are most common at the wobble base (i.e., the third base in each codon). B. For a protein-encoding gene, the regions that encode portions of the polypeptide that are vital for structure and function are less likely to display mutations than other regions of the gene. C. When comparing the sequences of homologous genes, introns usually have more sequence differences than exons.

Describe three or more genetic mechanisms that may lead to the rapid evolution of a new species. Which of these genetic mechanisms are influenced by natural selection, and which are not?

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