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Definition

noun, plural: speciations

The process in which new genetically distinct species evolve usually as a result of genetic isolation from the main population.

Supplement

Due to Genetic Isolation, the differences in gene pools among species become so great that they cannot reproduce through interbreeding. As a result, new species are formed with a genome that is genetically distinct from the main population.

The ways in which new species are formed are as follows:

• Allopatric speciation
• Peripatric speciation
• Parapatric speciation
• Sympatric speciation

Word origin: from Latin speciēs, a seeing, kind, form + L -ātiōn- (s. of -ātiō), action or process.
Related forms: speciate (verb), speciational (adjective).

See also: Genetic isolation.