The role of species concepts
The role of species concepts
This chapter introduces the topic of species concepts and the study of genetic exchange. It uses only four (biological, phylogenetic, cohesion, and prokaryotic) of the many definitions to illustrate how our concept of (i) what a species is and (ii) how it originates influences what evolutionary importance (or lack there of) we ascribe to genetic exchange. The chapter concludes by suggesting how we might use species concepts — often the bane of evolutionists interested in gene exchange — to afford a clearer understanding of the importance of natural hybridization and lateral gene transfer.
Keywords: genetic exchange, biological species concept, phylogenetic species, cohesion species, prokaryotic species, natural hybridization, lateral gene transfer
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