Question

Breeding is possible between two members of:
a. Order
b. Family
c. Genus
d. Species

Answer 1

Hint: Reproduction is one of the most basic features of the living organisms. Organisms must reproduce in order to survive their generation and continue their race. The fitness of an organism depends upon the fact that it is capable of reproduction and leaves its progeny.

Complete answer:
The process of sexual reproduction, usually of animals or plants that produce offspring, is known as breeding. It can be described as the process of genetic exchange between the male and female germ cells to produce a fertilized zygote which gives rise to an individual organism. Breeding can only occur between the two sexes, a male and a female organism. The organism that arises due to breeding contains certain specific characteristics. In most of the cases, the members of the same species are involved in breeding and they produce viable offspring. These specific characters distinguish it from other organisms of the other such species.

In a taxonomical classification, species are the basic unit of classification. Species are the group of potentially interbreeding populations of organisms that are able to produce fertile offspring. The members of the species share a common gene pool and take part in interbreeding reproduction. The members of any given species share the number of maximum common characteristics within them.

Order is the taxon of classification and it lies above the taxon family and below taxon class. The taxon order can be further divided into families. The genetic differences between the organisms of different order is very wide as a result, the breeding between them will not produce viable offspring.

Family lies below the taxon order and it further is followed by taxon genus. A family can be divided into several subfamilies. The families share only some characteristics of a gene pool.

Genus is the taxon of taxonomic classification of animals and plants that lies between family and species. The members of a genus share more characteristics than the members of different families but less than members of a species.

Hence, the correct answer is option (D).

Note: Species are the group of organisms which are able to interbreed among themselves to produce offspring. The offspring produced are fertile and can continue their generations. The members of a species share a common karyotype, DNA sequence, morphology, behavior or ecological niche. As a result, they share the common gene pool and hence, breeding or reproduction between two members of a species can take place.