Biological species concept, Biology

Assignment Help:

Q. Biological species concept?

A biological species as defined by Ernst Mayr are "groups of actually or potentially interbreeding natural populations which are reproductively isolated from other such groups". For example there are some species called sibling species that are reproductively isolated although they have extremely minute genetic differences. This definition assumes that a species cannot interbreed with other species due to a variety of isolating mechanisms that are behavioural, physiological, genetic, etc. Thus, according to the biological species concept, individuals within a species have a gene pool available for recombination through sexual reproduction within the group, and is not inhibited by pre - or post -mating reproductive isolation. The main criticism of this definition is that it applies only to organism (i.e. life forms) that have sexual reproduction, and ignores the fact that some times gene flow occurs between closely related, sympatric species (species whose geographical ranges overlap).

For example, significant gene exchange has happened between bison and bus (domestic cattle). Such occurrences violate the basic notion of the biological species concept. Nevertheless, this definition of a species continues to be widely used even today.


Related Discussions:- Biological species concept

Gill slits, Gill slits are the opening or the clefts between the gill arch...

Gill slits are the opening or the clefts between the gill arches in the fish. Water taken in by the mouth passes through the gill slits and bathes the gills. It also has rudimenta

Significance of mitosis, Significance of Mitosis 1.      Reproduction ...

Significance of Mitosis 1.      Reproduction ;   William Bateson 1906 wrote, Whenever  I observe a dividing  cell under  the  microscope , I feel  as if the original act of  c

Agro industrial-calcium, Calcium   The calcium content in forages is affe...

Calcium   The calcium content in forages is affected by species, plant part (leaf versus stem), plant maturity, soil content of calcium and climate. Forages are usually a good so

Signs and symptoms and treatments of hepatitis c, Q. What are the modes of ...

Q. What are the modes of transmission, main signs and symptoms and treatments of hepatitis C? The Hepatitis C is caused by the RNA virus and transmitted through blood (like hep

Define about the physical fitness, Define about the Physical Fitness? P...

Define about the Physical Fitness? Physical fitness is a general term we come across quite often and use it to describe an individual if he or she is able to carry out a variet

Describe how dna is folded into chromatin structures , 1. DNA must be exten...

1. DNA must be extensively folded in order to fit inside a nucleus that is less than 10 um in diameter. a. Describe how DNA is folded into chromatin structures of increasing com

Which hormone secreted by the growing ovarian follicles, Q. What is the hor...

Q. What is the hormone secreted by the growing ovarian follicles? What is the action of that hormone upon the uterus? The follicles that are growing after menses secrete estrog

What is the structural flat representation of an amino acid, What is the st...

What is the structural flat representation of an amino acid molecule? An amino acid has a central carbon to which a carboxyl group binds on a side and to which a -R (variable r

What is the dissociation and double dissociations, Dissociation and double ...

Dissociation and double dissociations Neuropsychologists typically try to design studies that provide evidence of the differential performance of brain damaged and control subj

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd