Why is reproductive isolation required for speciation to occur?
if populations can interbreed, they are considered one species.
if populations can interbreed, they do not exchange genetic information.
reproductive isolation is not required for speciation because most different species can interbreed.
reproductive isolation is not required for speciation because species are not defined by reproduction

A) If populations can interbreed, they are considered one species

Speciation takes place when a single species become a two or more separate species, which can no longer interbreed with each other. Reproductive isolation means the given group can not mate with each other, often because of physical barrier.

Reproductive isolation is required for speciation to occur because without it the member of species continue to mate with each other and because of it any beneficial mutation may occur which will spread throughout the group.

Speciation occur when groups are separated long enough, so that natural selection cause them to evolve differently.  

Speciation takes place when one species becomes two or more separate species. Such species are not interbred with each other. Reproductive isolation is essential and also required for speciation. In this process, the group of species are not able to interbreed with each other. (A) is the correct option.

Further Explanation:

Reproductive isolation is defined as the process of prevention of interbreeding between the members of two different species. This process plays an essential role in maintaining the characters of species and also leads to origin of new species. Reproductive isolation is of two types,

1. Premating Isolation

2. Post-mating Isolation

Premating isolation takes place due to mechanical isolation, psychological isolation, seasonal isolation or gametic isolation. The other type of reproductive isolation is post-mating isolation that occurs due to incompatibility, breakdown of hybrid or sterility and inviability.

Speciation leads to the formation of new species. The different species are found in the different environments and are separated from each other due to geographical and physiological barriers or variations due to different genetic characters. Different genetic characteristics are due to mutation, reproductive isolation, Recombination, genetic drift and natural selection.

Learn more:

1. Learn more about carbon dioxide

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3. Learn more about temperature

Answer Details:

Grade: High School

Subject: Biology

Chapter: Evolution

Keywords:

Evolution, mutation, recombination, interbreeding, species, speciation, reproductive isolation, origin.

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