Define speciation

Question

Describe briefly the term speciation?

Answer 1

Speciation is the procedure by which dissimilar species emerge from a common ancestor species. Speciation usually begins when populations of similar species become geographically isolated, that is, when they are separated by the some physical barrier that prohibits crossing between individuals from one population and individuals of any other population.

Groups that for a extensive time are kept under geographical isolation tend to accumulate different phenotypical characteristics from each other by means of genetic variability (mutations and recombination) and natural selection. When those differences reach a point that makes the crossing of individuals of one group with individuals of the other group impossible or the generation of fertile offspring no longer happens it is said that speciation has occurred.