Chapter 16, Problem 1BYB

Summary Introduction

To determine: The way the scientist determine whether an organism is a new species.

Introduction:

Species is defined as the largest group of individuals which is produced by sexual reproduction in which, the male and female gametes are fused together to form an offspring. Species of individuals have the ability to interbreed and can produce fertile offspring. Species are formed because of evolution. They are formed by the process of speciation in which a species is formed, when it is adapted to the new changing environment.

Explanation of Solution

A new species is formed when a group of individual is separated from the other species for a long time, so the individuals of that group is separated and can evolve new traits. When the two groups of species become geographically separated, they form new species. These species represent a reproductive isolation from the species they are evolved. The reproductive isolation means that two organisms are not capable of producing viable offspring, for example, Darwin finches.

Basically, it is an evolutionary process that occurs due to geographical isolation and presence of other barriers by which the species evolve to become two or more distinct species. If a scientist finds an organism in a population which is different than the other organisms in a population and has new traits, then that particular species is said to be a new species.

Conclusion

When new organisms are introduced in a population because of geographical conditions, then it is said to be a new species that shows different characteristics and represents a reproductive isolation from the species it has evolved.