| − | '''Speciation''' is the process by which new species arise. Speciation occurs when gene-flow stops between two sub-populations due to geographic or behavioral isolation. During such isolation the gene pool of each sub-population reacts differently to the processes of [[natural selection]] and [[genetic drift]]. When such changes accumulate to the extend that crosses between members of each sub-population can no longer produce viable offspring each sub-population is considered to be a new species and speciation is said to have occured. | + | '''Speciation''' is the process by which new species arise. Speciation occurs when gene-flow stops between two sub-populations due to geographic or behavioral isolation. During such isolation the gene pool of each sub-population reacts differently to the processes of [[natural selection]] and [[genetic drift]] and and such evolve divergently. If this evolutionary divergence becomes great enought that crosses between individuals from different sub-populations can no longer produce viable offspring each sub-population is considered to be a new species and speciation is said to have occured. |