A butterfly species in a homogenous forest patch starts exhibiting assortative mating, such that spotted individuals always mate with each other and plain individuals always mate with each other. This trait is heritable, and spotted parents always produce spotted offspring and plain parents always produce plain offspring. Which one of the following forms of speciation could this prezygotic reproductive barrier most likely lead to?
Show Hint
- Sympatric speciation
- Cryptic speciation
- Allopatric speciation
- Peripatric speciation
The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Assortative mating occurs when individuals with similar traits (e.g., spotted or plain) preferentially mate with each other. This leads to reduced gene flow between the two groups, potentially creating a reproductive barrier.
Step 2: Recognize the form of speciation.
When reproductive isolation occurs without geographical separation, it may result in sympatric speciation. In this scenario, the population remains in the same location, but assortative mating leads to genetic divergence between subgroups.
Step 3: Eliminate other options.
- Cryptic speciation: Refers to species that are genetically distinct but appear morphologically identical—does not apply here.
- Allopatric speciation: Involves geographic isolation, which is not the case in this question.
- Peripatric speciation: Refers to speciation in a small, isolated peripheral population—not relevant here.
Questions Asked in GATE EY exam
- An organization allows its employees to work independently on consultancy projects but charges an overhead on the consulting fee.
The overhead is 20% of the consulting fee if the fee is up to ₹5,00,000.
For higher fees, the overhead is ₹1,00,000 plus 10% of the amount by which the fee exceeds ₹5,00,000.
The government charges a Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 18% on the total amount (i.e., the consulting fee plus the overhead).
An employee of the organization charges this entire amount — that is, the consulting fee, overhead, and tax — to the client.
If the client cannot pay more than ₹10,00,000, what is the maximum consulting fee that the employee can charge? The table lists the top 5 nations according to the number of gold medals won in a tournament; also included are the number of silver and the bronze medals won by them. Based only on the data provided in the table, which one of the following statements is INCORRECT?
Eight students (P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, and W) are playing musical chairs. The figure indicates their order of position at the start of the game. They play the game by moving forward in a circle in the clockwise direction.
After the 1st round, the 4th student behind P leaves the game.
After the 2nd round, the 5th student behind Q leaves the game.
After the 3rd round, the 3rd student behind V leaves the game.
After the 4th round, the 4th student behind U leaves the game.
Who all are left in the game after the 4th round?
A stick of length one meter is broken at two locations at distances of \( b_1 \) and \( b_2 \) from the origin (0), as shown in the figure. Note that \( 0<b_1<b_2<1 \). Which one of the following is NOT a necessary condition for forming a triangle using the three pieces?
Note: All lengths are in meter. The figure shown is representative.
- Identify the option that has the most appropriate sequence such that a coherent paragraph is formed:
P: Over time, such adaptations lead to significant evolutionary changes with the potential to shape the development of new species.
Q: In natural world, organisms constantly adapt to their environments in response to challenges and opportunities.
R: This process of adaptation is driven by the principle of natural selection, where favorable traits increase an organism’s chances of survival and reproduction.
S: As environments change, organisms that can adapt their behavior, structure, and physiology to such changes are more likely to survive.