Question

Mules are considered to be a distinct species because they produce fertile offspring when mated.

Select one:


a. TRUE

b. FALSE

Answer 1

Mules do not produce fertile offspring and hence are not considered a distinct species, making the statement false. Species definitions rely on the ability to produce fertile offspring to maintain the species' continuity and prevent interbreeding with other species.

Step-by-step explanation:

Mules are not considered to be a distinct species because they do not produce fertile offspring when mated. The definition of a species, in part, is a group of individual organisms that interbreed and produce viable, fertile offspring. In the case of mules, which are the hybrid offspring of a male donkey (jack) and a female horse (mare), they are generally sterile and unable to produce offspring. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is b. FALSE.

It is important for members of a species to produce fertile offspring to maintain genetic continuity and survival of the species. Species are typically separated from one another by reproductive barriers, which prevent them from interbreeding with members of other species to produce fertile offspring. This is fundamental to the concept of biological species and is a key part of how organisms are categorized and understood in biology.