Skip to main content

A butterfly can mate with another butterfly to produce fertile offspring only if the two butterflies belong to the same _____.

This question is referring to the concept of speciation and the definition of what makes a particular group of organisms its own species. There are various ways to define a species, but the biological species concept is a widely accepted and commonly used method. The biological species concept states that a species is a group of individuals that can interbreed to produce fertile offspring. This means that if two individuals are not of the same species, they either cannot breed at all or cannot produce fertile offspring. 

This brings me to one of my favorite examples. When a horse and donkey mate, the offspring is called a mule. Mules are sterile and cannot produce their own offspring. Therefore, even though the horse and donkey produced offspring, it's not fertile offspring, so the horse and donkey are considered two separate species. Two horses, however, are of the same species because they can produce fertile offspring. Butterflies would be no different. They would only be able to mate and produce fertile offspring if they are of the same species.


However, it seems that there are always exceptions to the rules when it comes to speciation. The article I linked to below describes how the Appalachian tiger swallowtail butterfly is officially its own species, but genetic analysis has shown us that it is indeed a hybrid between the Eastern tiger swallowtail and the Canadian tiger swallowtail. 


Speciation is a fascinating topic that is full of unique stories of how species recognize each other, who can mate with who, how environment plays a role, and how groups separate and become their own species.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Can you analyze the poem "Absolution" by Siegfried Sassoon?

Sure! Siegfried Sassoon fought in World War I and was wounded in battle; he spent much of his life speaking out against war, and these pacifist feelings are easy to see in his poems. This one, "Absolution," was published in 1917, the same year that Sassoon was hospitalized for what we know today as post-traumatic stress disorder. "Absolution" is a short poem that contains three stanzas of four lines each. The word "absolution" means "forgiveness," and... Sure! Siegfried Sassoon fought in World War I and was wounded in battle; he spent much of his life speaking out against war, and these pacifist feelings are easy to see in his poems. This one, "Absolution," was published in 1917, the same year that Sassoon was hospitalized for what we know today as post-traumatic stress disorder. "Absolution" is a short poem that contains three stanzas of four lines each. The word "absolution" means "forgiveness," and the v...
Post a Comment
Read more

How and why does James Gatz become Jay Gatsby? Describe the young Gatsby/Gatz.

James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune,... James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune, whereas they arose from well-to-do families. Gatz became Gatsby through determination and discipline. At the end of the novel, the narr...
Post a Comment
Read more

In chapter one of The Great Gatsby, what advice does Nick's father give him? How does this make him a good person to tell this story?

Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches... Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches into a discussion of how pe...
Post a Comment
Read more