species

Question 1

what is a species

Answer 1

a species is a group of organisms that can breed with each other and produce fertile offspring

Question 2

what is a hybrid

Answer 2

a hybrid is when a few species interbreed. hybrids often cant produce offspring

Question 3

how do scientists share and validate new discoveries

Answer 3

they write a paper and send it to a scientific journal. the paper is checked first by other scientists to see that it is good enough to publish. they could also present their discovery to other scientists at a conference. when other scientists hear about his discovery, they will check it by repeating experiments. if they get the same results the discovery is validated

Question 4

what is the binomial name made up of

Answer 4

Genus Species e.g. Panthera Leo

Question 5

why is the binomial name useful

Answer 5

clearly identify species
study and conserve species
target conservation efforts.

Question 6

how can classification sometimes become complicated

Answer 6

variation within a species
hybridisation (closely related species breed to produce offspring that have characteristics of both – the hybrids are often infertile)
ring species – neighbouring populations of species may have slightly different characteristics but can still interbreed as part of a chain but the two ends of the chain can’t interbreed.

Question 7

why the definition of a species as organisms that

produce fertile offspring may have limitations

Answer 7

some organisms do not always reproduce sexually and some hybrids are fertile

Question 8

what is a ring species

Answer 8

ring species – neighbouring populations of species may have slightly different characteristics but can still interbreed as part of a chain but the two ends of the chain can’t interbreed.