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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Species_problem https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Species_problem The word "Species" is mixed up in all manner of biological and soci

by bcraven 10y ago

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Species_problem https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Species_problem The word "Species" is mixed up in all manner of biological and sociological turmoil. I was even of the impression that becuase of DNA sequencing the term is falling out of favour amongst researchers.

kristofferR 10y ago
Would DNA sequencing just make it easier to distinguish different species (like in this case) from each other instead of making the term more problematic?
- Scarblac 10y ago
  It's all a gray area, the distinction between two individuals being the same or different species is pretty arbitrary. DNA sequencing just replaces it with more accurate things (say the amount of DNA two individuals have in common, estimates of how long ago the last common ancestor lived, etc).
- Myrmornis 10y ago
  The problem is more the definition of the term, rather than availability of adequate data. A lot of biologists (and humans!) grew up thinking that "species" had a clear and obvious definition. One result is that their views are very entrenched and people don't realize that there's even a serious definitional problem at hand affecting a critical area of biology.
- dogma1138 10y ago
  Well it depends on how you define a "species" this isn't a technical problem this is a philosophical one. The most commonly used definition of a species today is a group that is capable and commonly practices interbreeding between its members. There are different species that are capable of interbreeding and even producing fertile offsprings but they do not breed for various reasons this can be as simple as a geographical barrier or as nuanced as a small visual difference like a red patch of feathers vs a black one that restricts them from breeding outside of their group. A more wider definition of a species is the largest gene pool of individuals technically capable of breeding but this one is not often used. Overall there would be more loose and more strict definition of species that would be used based on the subject matter at any given moment.

by bcraven 10y ago

kristofferR 10y ago

Would DNA sequencing just make it easier to distinguish different species (like in this case) from each other instead of making the term more problematic?

Scarblac 10y ago
It's all a gray area, the distinction between two individuals being the same or different species is pretty arbitrary. DNA sequencing just replaces it with more accurate things (say the amount of DNA two individuals have in common, estimates of how long ago the last common ancestor lived, etc).
Myrmornis 10y ago
The problem is more the definition of the term, rather than availability of adequate data. A lot of biologists (and humans!) grew up thinking that "species" had a clear and obvious definition. One result is that their views are very entrenched and people don't realize that there's even a serious definitional problem at hand affecting a critical area of biology.
dogma1138 10y ago
Well it depends on how you define a "species" this isn't a technical problem this is a philosophical one. The most commonly used definition of a species today is a group that is capable and commonly practices interbreeding between its members. There are different species that are capable of interbreeding and even producing fertile offsprings but they do not breed for various reasons this can be as simple as a geographical barrier or as nuanced as a small visual difference like a red patch of feathers vs a black one that restricts them from breeding outside of their group. A more wider definition of a species is the largest gene pool of individuals technically capable of breeding but this one is not often used. Overall there would be more loose and more strict definition of species that would be used based on the subject matter at any given moment.