Question

What roles do prezygotic and postzygotic barriers play in speciation?

a) Prezygotic barriers prevent mating, postzygotic prevent reproduction
b) Prezygotic barriers occur after reproduction, postzygotic before mating
c) Both prevent mating between species
d) Both occur after successful reproduction

Answer 1

Prezygotic barriers prevent mating, and postzygotic barriers occur after reproduction. They play a crucial role in speciation by preventing gene flow.

Step-by-step explanation:

Prezygotic barriers prevent mating between species, while postzygotic barriers occur after successful reproduction. Prezygotic barriers include mechanisms that block reproduction before the formation of a zygote, such as geographic isolation or differences in breeding schedules. On the other hand, postzygotic barriers occur after fertilization and can lead to inviability or sterility of hybrid individuals. These barriers play a crucial role in speciation by preventing gene flow between species, allowing for the formation of genetically independent species.