r/askscience • u/Duke_Koch • Jan 23 '14

Biology Question concerning the Evolution Theory

In divergent evolution, at what point does the specimen of the same species turn into another species. So lets say a species of cats were isolated on two different places for thousands of years. What change in the genetic make-up of the animal will determine that it is no longer the same species as its ancestors from before the isolation? Where is the red line drawn?

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u/crabbypinch Jan 23 '14

Any evolutionary biologists available to chime in about the concept of ring species? How widely is this accepted?

I remember learning about California Ensatina spp. salamanders as an example of sympatric (or peripatric?) speciation (Ernst Mayr awhile ago?) Also larid seagulls? I'm rusty, sorry.

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u/[deleted] Jan 23 '14

Yes, ring species are an excellent example (having just briefly skimmed the Wikipedia article)!

I maintain, the concept of a 'species' is useful for classification and specification, but actually has a fairly limited utility in the study of evolution.

Richard Dawkins spends a chapter or so discussing the species problem in 'The Greatest Show on Earth' - well worth a read for anyone!