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Which of the following statements best describes a limitation of the biological species concept?

1) It is difficult to apply the concept to asexual organisms
2) It does not account for hybridization between species
3) It relies heavily on observable physical characteristics
4) It cannot be used to classify extinct species

User Rueta
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Final answer:

The biological species concept is limited because it cannot easily address asexual organisms, classify extinct species, or account for hybridization between species due to its reliance on reproductive isolation through interbreeding.

Step-by-step explanation:

Among the limitations of the biological species concept, the most notable is that it is difficult to apply to asexual organisms. Since the biological species concept defines a species as a group of actually or potentially interbreeding natural populations that are reproductively isolated from other such groups, it inherently assumes sexual reproduction. Consequently, the concept cannot easily accommodate organisms that reproduce asexually, such as bacteria, many plants, and some animals, which do not form species via interbreeding.

Additionally, applying the biological species concept to classify extinct species is problematic because it is often impossible to know whether different fossil organisms were capable of interbreeding. This is due to the reliance on mating behavior, which cannot be observed in extinct species. Furthermore, the concept does not account for the phenomenon of hybridization between species, which may occur in nature and indicates that the process of speciation may be incomplete or that distinct species can sometimes produce fertile offspring.

User Kuberchaun
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