reproductive isolation

American  

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of reproductive isolation

First recorded in 1980–85

Example Sentences

Species is well defined, at least when horizontal gene transfer is not taken into account, by reproductive isolation.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

Many types of diverging characters may affect the reproductive isolation, the ability to interbreed, of the two populations.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

Differences in the diets and conditions of fish living at the bottom and in open water have induced distinct body forms, which seem to be evolving reproductive isolation, a stage in forming new species.

From Nature • Oct. 7, 2014

"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