Editing Speciation (section)

== <span style="color: #FFFFFF;">Applying</span> ==
'''Modeling 'The Splitting Point' (Genetic Distance):'''
<syntaxhighlight lang="python">
def check_speciation_status(genetic_difference_percent):
    """
    Shows how 'Similarity' determines species status.
    """
    if genetic_difference_percent < 0.5:
        return "SAME SPECIES: Minor variations only."
    elif genetic_difference_percent < 2.0:
        return "SUBSPECIES: Can still interbreed, but distinct."
    else:
        return "NEW SPECIES: Reproductive isolation achieved."

# Chimps vs Humans are ~1.2% - 4.0% different (depending on the measure)
print(f"Status (1.5% diff): {check_speciation_status(1.5)}")
print(f"Status (3.0% diff): {check_speciation_status(3.0)}")
# This 'Distance' is what phylogenetics measures to 
# build the Tree of Life.
</syntaxhighlight>

; Speciation Landmarks
: '''The Grand Canyon Squirrels''' → The Kaibab and Abert squirrels were separated by the canyon; they are now distinct species.
: '''Cichlid Fish in Lake Victoria''' → Hundreds of species evolved in a single lake in just 15,000 years through "Sympatric" speciation.
: '''The Isthmus of Panama''' → When the bridge of land formed 3 million years ago, it separated fish in the Atlantic and Pacific, leading to many new "Sister Species."
: '''Apple Maggot Flies''' → A modern case of speciation where flies that once ate Hawthorn fruit switched to Apples and stopped breeding with the original group.
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