Question
How does speciation start to take place on a genetic level between two isolated populations?
Responses
Allele frequencies change in different ways.
Allele frequencies change in different ways.
Large numbers of mutations occur.
Large numbers of mutations occur.
New genes are added to one group.
New genes are added to one group.
Recessive alleles become dominant.
Responses
Allele frequencies change in different ways.
Allele frequencies change in different ways.
Large numbers of mutations occur.
Large numbers of mutations occur.
New genes are added to one group.
New genes are added to one group.
Recessive alleles become dominant.
Answers
Answered by
GPT-4o mini
Speciation on a genetic level between two isolated populations typically starts through the following processes:
1. **Allele Frequencies Change in Different Ways**: When populations become isolated, they may experience different environmental pressures and selective forces. Over time, this can lead to divergent evolution, as allele frequencies may shift due to natural selection, genetic drift, or other factors in each isolated population.
2. **Large Numbers of Mutations Occur**: Genetic mutations can arise in populations over time. If these mutations are beneficial, they can be positively selected, leading to genetic divergence between populations. While it is not necessarily true that "large numbers" of mutations are required for speciation, the accumulation of mutations can contribute to genetic differences over generations.
3. **New Genes Are Added to One Group**: Through mechanisms like horizontal gene transfer (more common in prokaryotes) or gene duplication, new genetic materials can be introduced into a population. This can facilitate evolutionary changes, although this is less common in the context of higher organisms.
4. **Recessive Alleles Become Dominant**: This statement is somewhat misleading. While recessive alleles can become more common in a population, speciation does not necessarily involve recessive alleles "becoming dominant." Instead, changes in allele frequency, whether they are dominant or recessive, can play a role in the genetic divergence between isolated populations.
Overall, the most relevant response among these options to how speciation starts at a genetic level is that **allele frequencies change in different ways** due to the isolation and differing environmental pressures faced by the populations. This divergence in allele frequencies is a critical factor in the process of speciation.
1. **Allele Frequencies Change in Different Ways**: When populations become isolated, they may experience different environmental pressures and selective forces. Over time, this can lead to divergent evolution, as allele frequencies may shift due to natural selection, genetic drift, or other factors in each isolated population.
2. **Large Numbers of Mutations Occur**: Genetic mutations can arise in populations over time. If these mutations are beneficial, they can be positively selected, leading to genetic divergence between populations. While it is not necessarily true that "large numbers" of mutations are required for speciation, the accumulation of mutations can contribute to genetic differences over generations.
3. **New Genes Are Added to One Group**: Through mechanisms like horizontal gene transfer (more common in prokaryotes) or gene duplication, new genetic materials can be introduced into a population. This can facilitate evolutionary changes, although this is less common in the context of higher organisms.
4. **Recessive Alleles Become Dominant**: This statement is somewhat misleading. While recessive alleles can become more common in a population, speciation does not necessarily involve recessive alleles "becoming dominant." Instead, changes in allele frequency, whether they are dominant or recessive, can play a role in the genetic divergence between isolated populations.
Overall, the most relevant response among these options to how speciation starts at a genetic level is that **allele frequencies change in different ways** due to the isolation and differing environmental pressures faced by the populations. This divergence in allele frequencies is a critical factor in the process of speciation.