Chapter 14, Problem 1SQ

Distinguish between microevolution, speciation, and macroevolution.

Summary Introduction

To distinguish:

Microevolution, speciation, and macroevolution.

Introduction:

Evolution is a process of changes that occur 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 in the changing environment and harsh conditions. This biological evolution occurs constantly over time and results in modifications in the descendants. The changes that occur in a species could be on a small scale or could be on a larger scale.

Explanation of Solution

Explanation:

The differences among microevolution, speciation, and macroevolution are as follows:

Microevolution	Speciation	Macroevolution
Microevolution is the evolutionary changes that occur on a small scale within a population. Therefore, it results in small changes.	Speciation is an evolutionary process by which the lineages are split into new or distinct species.	Macroevolution is the evolutionary changes that occur 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 occur 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, such as, 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, which leads to the formation of new gene pools.	The changes that occur 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 that result in the formation of new lineages. Microevolution is the changes that occur at small scale, and macroevolution involves changes that occur at large scale in a population over the time