Video Transcript
Which of the following best
describes a species? (A) A species is a group of similar
organisms that can reproduce. (B) A species is a group of
organisms that had a common ancestor in the last millennium. (C) A species is a large group of
organisms that inhabit the same ecological space. (D) A species is a group of
organisms that can breed to produce fertile offspring. Or (E) a species is a group of
organisms that are genetically identical.
Species is the smallest and most
specific rank in a taxonomic system. A species is a group of organisms
with similar characteristics. However, organisms in a genus, or
any of the other taxonomic groupings, also have similar characteristics. How do we know that organisms are
similar enough to be called the same species?
First, they must be similar enough
that they can reproduce with each other. But not only that, the offspring
need to be fertile. Some organisms that are not in the
same species, such as a lion and a tiger, can reproduce, but the offspring are not
fertile. Therefore, they are not the same
species.
So, the correct answer is (D). A species is a group of organisms
that can breed to produce fertile offspring.
