Final answer:
DMIs explain incompatibility between populations by detailing how reproductive isolation mechanisms, both prezygotic and postzygotic, can prevent interbreeding without causing issues within a population itself.
Step-by-step explanation:
DMIs, which stands for Dobzhansky-Muller Incompatibilities, explain how incompatibility can arise between populations without producing incompatibilities within a population. This concept is linked to the mechanisms of reproductive isolation that can develop over time due to genetic and phenotypic divergence between populations. Reproductive isolation refers to the inability of different populations to interbreed successfully. Prezygotic mechanisms prevent mating or fertilization between populations, which can include differences in mating rituals, timing, and pheromone sensitivity. Postzygotic mechanisms come into play after fertilization, where genetic incompatibilities may prevent proper development of the offspring, or result in their infertility, as seen with the mule, which cannot produce viable gametes.