What biological process results from reproductive isolation?

What biological process results from reproductive isolation?

• A. Adaptation
• B. Extinction
• C. Speciation
• D. Mutation

Answer: (C)

Reproductive isolation is a key mechanism that leads to speciation, the process through which new species arise. When populations of a species become reproductively isolated from one another, they can no longer interbreed. This isolation can occur through various means, such as geographic barriers, differences in mating behaviors, or temporal isolation (mating at different times). As these isolated populations experience different environmental pressures and genetic drift over time, they accumulate genetic differences. If the differences become substantial enough, the populations evolve into distinct species that can no longer produce viable offspring together, even if they come into contact again. This transformation is central to the concept of speciation, making it the correct answer to the question regarding the consequences of reproductive isolation.

Reproductive isolation is a key mechanism that leads to speciation, the process through which new species arise. When populations of a species become reproductively isolated from one another, they can no longer interbreed. This isolation can occur through various means, such as geographic barriers, differences in mating behaviors, or temporal isolation (mating at different times).

As these isolated populations experience different environmental pressures and genetic drift over time, they accumulate genetic differences. If the differences become substantial enough, the populations evolve into distinct species that can no longer produce viable offspring together, even if they come into contact again. This transformation is central to the concept of speciation, making it the correct answer to the question regarding the consequences of reproductive isolation.