speciation

speciation
/spee'shee ay"sheuhn, -see ay"-/, n. Biol.
the formation of new species as a result of geographic, physiological, anatomical, or behavioral factors that prevent previously interbreeding populations from breeding with each other.
[1895-1900; SPECI(ES) + -ATION]

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Formation of new and distinct species, whereby a single evolutionary line splits into two or more genetically independent ones.

One of the fundamental processes of evolution, speciation may occur in many ways. Investigators formerly found evidence for speciation in the fossil record by tracing sequential changes in the structure and form of organisms. Genetic studies now show that such changes do not always accompany speciation, since many apparently identical groups are in fact reproductively isolated (i.e., they can no longer produce viable offspring through interbreeding). Polyploidy (see ploidy) is a means by which the beginnings of new species are created in just two or three generations.

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      the formation of new and distinct species in the course of evolution. In individual cases, it involves the splitting of a single evolutionary lineage into two or more genetically independent ones. See species.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Speciation — ⇒ Artbildung …   Deutsch wörterbuch der biologie

  • speciation — (n.) 1906; see SPECIES (Cf. species) + ATION (Cf. ation) …   Etymology dictionary

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  • speciation — noun a) The process by which new distinct species evolve. In both groups, however, we find copious and intricate speciation so that, often, species limits are narrow and ill defined. b) The formation of different (inorganic) species, for example… …   Wiktionary

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