8/13/2019 Hybridisation Questions

1/2

Year 11 - Pre-Diploma Biology

THE MEANING OF SPECIES

The accompanying article from theNew Scientist, Hybridisation Rules OK! by Martin Brooes,though no dated "#pril $%%&', is still (ery (alid) He discusses the problems facing biologists hen

trying to define a species) The argument centres around a definition based upon reproducti(elyisolated organisms, or a definition based upon organisms hich share common features andbeha(iour)Read and then refer to the article to anser the *uestions)

The con(entional, present+day understanding of hat e mean by species is gi(en in lines , - . %)Q.1 /hat is that definition0# species is a group of indi(iduals hich can mate ith one another to produce fertile offspring)

#s a definition it is *uicly destroyed by the reference to Blue Whalesand Fin Whales"lines %+$')Q.2 Ho do these to species contest the con(entional definition0Because the Blue hales and the 1in hales can breed ith each other to produce fertile offspring e(enthough they are not the same species) Therefore this to hales can mae fertile offspring beingdifferent species hich is the opposite to hat the definition says)

2n the 3rdparagraph "lines $-+3', the to concepts of hat a species is, are compared)Q.3 "i' /hat as the species concept prior to the $%345s0 6pecies here (ieed as as simplydifferent inds of li(ing things, but the problem as to define different

"ii' #lthough not named in the te7t, ho do you thin as the greatest ad(ocate of thisconcept0

Q.4 /hat as8is the species concept introduced by 9ob:hansy and Mayr in the $%345s0/hat as the species concept prior to the $%345s0 6pecies here (ieed as as simply different inds ofli(ing things, but the problem as to define different

Q.5 9arin as not particularly concerned by the concept of a species) /hy not0 He sa species asreal entities, but as artificial collections of indi(iduals made for con(enience) Because he saindi(iduals ere the units of his ne theory of e(olution, not species)

Q.6 ;i(en the probable se(eral million of mostly tiny organisms not yet described on this planet,hat problems face a natural historian ho thins s8he has found, and ants to name a ne species0"# "line ?', andtheir @))0#re good ta7onomist species, hich is about reproducti(e compatibility seen as glue holding a speciestogether)

The (ariation in beas of the $3 "sub0' species of 9arin5s finches on ;alApagos are cited as a goode7ample of natural selection oring to mae groups of birds distinct one from another, rather thanreproducti(e isolation "lines -3+%-')Q.9 7plain the argument being used)9arin mentioned that species here different Cust because of some different characteristics liepics) This is ho he sa different species from each other rather than reproducti(e isolation)

Q.10 "i' /hy do hybridising species challenge the con(entional B6D0 "

8/13/2019 Hybridisation Questions

2/2

Blue hale and 1in hales, Humans and Orangutans)

9arinian e(olution theory focuses (ery much upon species and clusters of related indi(iduals "lines$=&+$=')Q.11 /hat therefore is the e(ol(ing unit in 9arinian e(olution theory0That species ith different characteristics must be considered as different species

Q.12 6election forces act upon the small cluster of related indi(iduals but specifically, and ingenetic terms, hat is it that is being selected for or against0

Q.13 ;i(en this discussion, hat ould no be your best5 definition of a species0# group of organisms hich e(en ha(ing different characteristics can gi(e a fertile offspring beteenthem)Q.14 /hat is the fundamental e(ent in the 9># of an organism that ultimately can enable e(olutionof a ne organism ith different characteristics to appear0# bonding beteen to different characteri:ed species ill lead to ne characteristics of the offspring)This ay the ne 9># is changed causing a e(olution)

Q.15 1or one organism, gi(e a full classification "from Kingdom to species', saying at each point ofclassification, hat characteristics enable the grouping of the organism)

DogsKingdomI #nimalia)JhylumI Dhordata)DlassI Mammalia)OrderI Darni(ora)1amilyI Danidae)

;enusI Danis)6peciesI Danis lupus)

6ubspeciesI Danis lupus familiaris

ohn Osborne1ebruary G4$?