explain what is meant by the term species. How might a single species become two separate species?
Essay 4: explain what is meant by the term species. How might a single species become two separate species?
A species is a group of similar organisms that can breed together to produce fertile offspring. A species is a basic unit of classification. Members of singles species have certain things in common.
Firstly they are similar to one another but different from members of other species. They have similar genes and therefore closely resemble one another physically and biochemically. They have similar patterns in development and similar immunological features and they occupy the same ecological niche. An ecological niche is all the conditions and resources required for an organism to survive, reproduce and maintain a viable population.
Secondly they are capable of breeding to produce living, fertile offspring. They are therefore able to successfully produce more offspring. This means that, when a species reproduces sexually any of the genes of its individuals can be combined with any other as they belong to the same gene pool.
When an organism is being named through Linnaeus’ binomial system the second or specific name denotes the species to which the organism belongs. This name is never shared by other species within the same genus. An example of this is the common blackbird. Before the binomial system was introduced organisms were named by their description, like the blackbird, however this became confusing and difficult for scientist to be sure they were referring to the same species. The blackbird’s binomial name is Turdus merula, in this case ‘merula’ is the species name.
The process by which one species becomes two separate species is called speciation. Speciation is the evolution of new species from existing species. Any species consists of one or more populations. A population is a group of individuals of the same species occupying the same habitat at the same time. Within each population of a species, individuals breed with one another.
A species is a group of similar organisms that can breed together to produce fertile offspring. A species is a basic unit of classification. Members of singles species have certain things in common.
Firstly they are similar to one another but different from members of other species. They have similar genes and therefore closely resemble one another physically and biochemically. They have similar patterns in development and similar immunological features and they occupy the same ecological niche. An ecological niche is all the conditions and resources required for an organism to survive, reproduce and maintain a viable population.
Secondly they are capable of breeding to produce living, fertile offspring. They are therefore able to successfully produce more offspring. This means that, when a species reproduces sexually any of the genes of its individuals can be combined with any other as they belong to the same gene pool.
When an organism is being named through Linnaeus’ binomial system the second or specific name denotes the species to which the organism belongs. This name is never shared by other species within the same genus. An example of this is the common blackbird. Before the binomial system was introduced organisms were named by their description, like the blackbird, however this became confusing and difficult for scientist to be sure they were referring to the same species. The blackbird’s binomial name is Turdus merula, in this case ‘merula’ is the species name.
The process by which one species becomes two separate species is called speciation. Speciation is the evolution of new species from existing species. Any species consists of one or more populations. A population is a group of individuals of the same species occupying the same habitat at the same time. Within each population of a species, individuals breed with one another.