The Species and the Kind

Biblical Kinds The natural groupings of organisms established by God

Problems With The Species Concept Artificial characteristics Environmental effects Ignored similarities

Problems With The Species Concept Interbreeding Some organisms do not reproduce sexually.

Problems With The Species Concept Interbreeding Sometimes members of the same species cannot interbreed. Ecotypes

Speciation The formation of a new species Does not create new kinds of organisms Taxonomists define them as new species

Migration and Adaptation The moving of organisms from one area to another Adaptation The adjustment of an organism to an environment to which it is not accustomed

Migration and Adaptation Often used as evidence for evolution No new genes are formed; no new organisms have evolved.

Evolutionary Classification System “Natural” system of classification Based on biochemical similarities