Using your knowledge of natural selection and speciation, suggest how new species can evolve from the same common ancestor.

Speciation requires reproductive isolation. This is where the members of different populations are unable to interbreed to produce fertile offspring.Reproductive isolation could have been caused by a physical barrier such as a river which would have geographically prevented interbreedingDifferent mutations could have created different features in the two populations.Natural selection could have caused advantageous features to spread through the populations over timeConditions of the different geographical environments could have been different at the time, so the features that were beneficial may have been different for each population.Eventually, individuals of the different populations have evolved so much that they developed such different features which meant that they could no longer interbreed to produce fertile offsprings.

Answered by Biology tutor

2294 Views

See similar Biology GCSE tutors

Related Biology GCSE answers

All answers ▸

What is osmosis?


Explain the advantages of sexual reproduction in plants


What is the role of the hormone insulin? How does it contribute to diabetes?


Name two components of an animal cell, and briefly describe their role.


We're here to help

contact us iconContact usWhatsapp logoMessage us on Whatsapptelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

© MyTutorWeb Ltd 2013–2025

Terms & Conditions|Privacy Policy
Cookie Preferences