Concept explainers
Explain the role of gene flow in the biological species concept.
To review: The importance of gene flow with respect to the biological species concept.
Introduction:
According to the “Biological species concept”, a group of individuals with interbreeding members to produce a viable offspring is called “species”. “Gene flow” occurs by the transfer of alleles between individuals of a species, and this exchange of alleles tends to hold the individuals together genetically. Human beings are one of the best examples of the “biological species concept”.
Explanation of Solution
In the “biological species concept”, the members of a species become reproductively isolated through prezygotic and postzygotic barriers and thus produce a fertile offspring. These members do not breed with the members of other species. As the interruption of the gene flow is must for the production of a new species, but here the members of different species are not interbreeding; therefore, the gene flow is completely masked between different populations. Hence, in the “biological species concept”, there is a complete absence of gene flow.
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