A rapid method of speciation that has been important in the history of flowering plants is
A)genetic drift.
B)a mutation in the gene controlling the timing of flowering.
C)behavioral isolation.
D)polyploidy.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Polyploidy is the rapid method of speciation that has been important in the history of flowering plants. It occurs when a plant cell undergoes a mistake during meiosis or mitosis, resulting in the doubling of its chromosome number. This leads to the development of a new species that is reproductively isolated from its parent population. Polyploidy has played a significant role in plant evolution, and many important crop plants such as wheat, cotton, and bananas are polyploid species.

A Rapid Method of Speciation That Has Been Important in the History