--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The fundamental problem in the origin of…" description: "\"The fundamental problem in the origin of species is not the origin of differences in appearance, since these arise at the level of the geographical rac..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d37/david-lack-76202_appearance_the-fundamental-problem-in-the-origin-of_2673562.png" --- # The fundamental problem in the origin of species is not… ![“The fundamental problem in the origin of species is not the origin of differences in appearance, since these arise at the level of the geographical race, but the origin of genetic segregation. The test of species-formation is whether, when two forms meet, they interbreed and merge, or whether they…” quote by David Lack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d37/david-lack-76202_appearance_the-fundamental-problem-in-the-origin-of_2673562.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d37/david-lack-76202_appearance_the-fundamental-problem-in-the-origin-of_2673562.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d37/david-lack-76202_appearance_the-fundamental-problem-in-the-origin-of_2673562.png) > “The fundamental problem in the origin of species is not the origin of differences in appearance, since these arise at the level of the geographical race, but the origin of genetic segregation. The test of species-formation is whether, when two forms meet, they interbreed and merge, or whether they keep distinct.” [David Lack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lack/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Species formation hinges on genetic segregation and interbreeding, not just visible differences. **In simple terms:** Genetics defines species. Key Takeaway Study genetic flow to understand biodiversity. Themes biology evolution genetics Mood analytical curious Type scientific educational When to use this quote - conservation - breeding programs - medical research Key Concepts Speciation mechanisms population genetics Questions to Reflect On - How do environmental pressures influence genetic segregation? A Different Perspective Genetic focus may overlook ecological factors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Appearance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appearance/) [Arise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arise/) [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [Formation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/formation/) [Fundamentals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fundamentals/) [Genetics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genetics/) [Levels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/levels/) [Origin of species](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/origin-of-species/) [Origin Species](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/origin-species-274108/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Race Origin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race-origin-2523133/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Segregation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/segregation/) [Species](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/species/) [Species Formation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/species-formation-2523132/) [Species Origin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/species-origin-1595066/) [Test Species](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/test-species-2523134/) [Tests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tests/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) ## Related quotes > [His subject is the "Origin of Species," & not the origin of Organization; & it seems a needless mischief to have opened the latter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-martineau/his-subject-is-the-origin-of-species-not-the-origin-of-organization/) [Harriet Martineau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-martineau/) > [The publication in 1859 of the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin made a marked epoch in my own mental development, as it did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-galton/the-publication-in-1859-of-the-origin-of-species-by-charles-darwin/) [Francis Galton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-galton/) > [ “I expect to think that I would rather be author of your book \[The Origin of Species\] than of any other on Nat. Hist.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-dalton-hooker/i-expect-to-think-that-i-would-rather-be-author-of-your-book-the/) [Joseph Dalton Hooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-dalton-hooker/) > [“Nevertheless it is probable that the hearing rather early in life such views maintained and praised may have favoured my upholding them under a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/nevertheless-it-is-probable-that-the-hearing-rather-early-in-life/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) > [When students of other sciences ask us what is now currently believed about the origin of species, we have no clear answer to give.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bateson/when-students-of-other-sciences-ask-us-what-is-now-currently-believed/) [William Bateson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bateson/) > [Agassiz, when I saw him last, had read but a part of Origin of Species. He says it is POOR-VERY POOR!!. The fact is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asa-gray/agassiz-when-i-saw-him-last-had-read-but-a-part-of-origin-of-species/) [Asa Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asa-gray/) > [“When Charles Darwin published On the Origin of Species in 1859, he exposed the world to a momentous discovery . For the first time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-schweitzer/when-charles-darwin-published-on-the-origin-of-species-in-1859-he/) [Jeff Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-schweitzer/) > [ It takes a long time before we really get to grips with this \[Darwin's 'On the Origin of Species'\] and begin to understand it,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/it-takes-a-long-time-before-we-really-get-to-grips-with-this-darwin-s/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“Darwin’s familiarity with human-caused extinction is also clear from On the Origin of Species. In one of the many passages in which he heaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kolbert/darwin-s-familiarity-with-human-caused-extinction-is-also-clear-from/) [Elizabeth Kolbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kolbert/) > [Each species may have had its origin in a single pair, or individual, where an individual was sufficient, and species may have been created…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lyell/each-species-may-have-had-its-origin-in-a-single-pair-or-individual/) [Charles Lyell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lyell/) > [When most of us hear the phrase, 'survival of the fittest,' we assume it originated with Charles Darwin. It did not. The phrase doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-a-barker/when-most-of-us-hear-the-phrase-survival-of-the-fittest-we-assume-it/) [Joel A. Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-a-barker/) > [When Charles Darwin wrote The Origin Of The Species, no one could have known that the ice cap would melt, that the waters would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mcqueen/when-charles-darwin-wrote-the-origin-of-the-species-no-one-could-have/) [Alexander McQueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mcqueen/) > [... why are so many religious people arguing about the origin of the species but so few concerned about the extinction of the species?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-d-mclaren/why-are-so-many-religious-people-arguing-about-the-origin-of-the/) [Brian D. McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-d-mclaren/) > [Already at the origin of the species man was equal to what he was destined to become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/already-at-the-origin-of-the-species-man-was-equal-to-what-he-was/) [Jean Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/) > [It occurred to me, in 1837, that something might perhaps be made of this question (the origin of the species) by patiently accumulating and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/it-occurred-to-me-in-1837-that-something-might-perhaps-be-made-of/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) ## More by David Lack > [On consideration, it is not surprising that Darwin's finches should recognize their own kind primarily by beak characters. The beak is the only prominent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lack/on-consideration-it-is-not-surprising-that-darwin-s-finches-should/) [David Lack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lack/) > [Rumour has it that the gardens of natural history museums are used for surreptitious burial of those intermediate forms between species which might disturb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lack/rumour-has-it-that-the-gardens-of-natural-history-museums-are-used/) [David Lack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lack/) [Explore all 3 David Lack quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lack/) ## More Appearance quotes > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I just worried about my weight. 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Art is first appearances, then meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/i-cannot-be-convinced-that-great-artists-are-moralists-art-is-first/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [So may the outward shows be least themselves; The world is still deceived with ornament.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/so-may-the-outward-shows-be-least-themselves-the-world-is-still/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We are one of many appearances of the thing called Life; we are not its perfect image, for it has no perfect image except…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-eiseley/we-are-one-of-many-appearances-of-the-thing-called-life-we-are-not/) [Loren Eiseley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-eiseley/) > [I'm OK with my appearance. I have made my peace with it after a long and frankly exhausting battle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-perkins/i-m-ok-with-my-appearance-i-have-made-my-peace-with-it-after-a-long/) [Sue Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-perkins/) > [There is no society or conversation to be kept up in the world without good-nature, or something which must bear its appearance and supply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/there-is-no-society-or-conversation-to-be-kept-up-in-the-world/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Appearance records are pretty special. Mine means a lot to me, not only because I love stats, but because it shows that I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-james/appearance-records-are-pretty-special-mine-means-a-lot-to-me-not-only/) [David James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-james/) > [Every man would fall in love with their voice, their lovely appearance, but no man would ever get past that. They'd never really know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-hocking/every-man-would-fall-in-love-with-their-voice-their-lovely-appearance/) [Amanda Hocking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-hocking/) > [I already know what things look like - I don't want description. People believe in appearances, and I don't believe in appearances at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duane-michals/i-already-know-what-things-look-like-i-don-t-want-description-people/) [Duane Michals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duane-michals/) [Browse all 2,446 Appearance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appearance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The fundamental problem in the origin of species is not the origin of differences in appearance, since these arise at the level of the geographical race, but the origin of genetic segregation. 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