[Campbell Biology P.572] Based on the information provided regarding speciation, which of th... | Practice Question
Based on the information provided regarding speciation, which of the following is true about the timeframe and genetic basis of new species formation?
option_A: Speciation can occur rapidly after divergence begins, but the overall time between events varies from thousands to tens of millions of years, and it can be driven by few or many genes.
option_B: Speciation always takes millions of years to complete and consistently involves changes in a large number of genes.
option_C: New species form slowly, taking hundreds of millions of years, and always involve changes in only a few key genes.
option_D: The timeframe for speciation is generally consistent, occurring within a few thousand years, and it is primarily influenced by environmental factors, not genes.
Explanation
The text states: 'New species can form rapidly once divergence begins, but it can take millions of years for that to happen. The time interval between speciation events varies considerably, from a few thousand years to tens of millions of years.' And 'Speciation can be driven by a few or many genes.'