reproductive isolation

American  

noun

1. the conditions, as physiological or behavioral differences or geographical barriers, that prevent potentially interbreeding populations from cross-fertilization.

---

Etymology

Origin of reproductive isolation

First recorded in 1980–85

Example Sentences

Scientists have identified two main types of polyploidy that can lead to reproductive isolation of an individual in the polyploidy state.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

The mechanism that underlies the reproductive isolation seen by Luo and colleagues remains to be determined.

From Nature • Jul. 31, 2018

If an important behavior, such as a mating ritual, evolves differently in two groups, then this type of reproductive isolation is termed behavioral isolation.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2018

"In other words, how you end up looking is a function of how those around you look. With the primates we studied, this has a purpose: to strengthen reproductive isolation between populations."

From BBC • Jun. 26, 2014

Geographic isolation leads to genetic isolation, and to eventual reproductive isolation.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee