Allopatric Speciation Is Probably the Most Common Way That New

question 36

Essay

Allopatric speciation is probably the most common way that new species form. Please describe a hypothetical scenario in which an initial ancestral population could split to form a new species through allopatric speciation. A fully correct answer will incorporate the following terms: gene flow, divergence, natural selection (including sexual selection), genetic drift, reproductive isolation, and reinforcement.

---

Definitions:

Heterozygous

Referring to an organism that has two different alleles for a specific gene, one inherited from each parent.

Dominant Allele

An allele that expresses its phenotypic effect even when heterozygous with a recessive allele.

Recessive Allele

A variant of a gene that must be inherited from both parents in order to manifest its trait, as opposed to a dominant allele where only one copy is needed for expression.