Chapter 14, Problem 1SQ

Summary Introduction

To distinguish: Among microevolution, speciation and macroevolution.

Introduction: Evolution is a process of changes occurring in the heritable characters of living organisms over the period of time from generation to generation. These changes help an organism and its generation to survive the changing environment and harsh conditions. This biological evolution occurs constantly over time and result in the modifications in the descendants. The changes occurring in a species could be on a small scale or could be on a larger scale.

Explanation of Solution

The differences among microevolution, speciation and macroevolution are:

Microevolution	Speciation	Macroevolution
Microevolution is the evolutionary changes occurring on a small scale within a population which results in the small changes.	Speciation is an evolutionary process by which the lineages split into new or distinct species.	Macroevolution is the evolutionary changes occurring on a large scale
It occurs in an interbreeding population that has a common gene pool.	The process of speciation occurs by the splitting of a single species into two or more lineages that are entirely genetically different from their original lineage.	Usually changes referred to the genetic changes occurring above the species level over the long period of time.
The genetic changes occur due to mutations, natural selection, and genetic drift. Evidence of microevolution is seen as alterations within a population like, size, color or resistant trait.	Changes occur through allopatric and sympatric speciation that take geographic isolation into account. The newly formed species keep continuing their own evolution that leads to formation of new gene pools.	The changes occurring due to macroevolution are evident enough that they result in an entirely new species and many times evident enough that they are recorded in the fossil records.

Conclusion

Speciation is the evolutionary changes resulting in the formation of new lineages. Microevolution is the changes occurring at small scale and macroevolution involves changes occurring at large scale in a population over the time.