In the prosperous biosphere, reproductive isolation is widespread between different species of animals and plants, which is a basic measure for biological evolution to ensure the reproduction of populations. But there are some species that can get rid of reproductive isolation and give birth to the next generation. For example, the result of the hybridization of horses and donkeys is mules, while the result of the hybridization of lions and tigers is lions and tigers.
In animal husbandry, which is closely related to humans, it is very common to cross goats with sheep, and the resulting goats are very common. However, there is no hybridization between cattle and buffalo. Although it looks like cattle and buffalo look alike, their hybridization will not have a next generation. Why is that?
Yellow cattle are the representative breeds of the north, we are familiar with the Qinchuan cattle in Shaanxi, the Jinnan cattle in Shanxi, the Luxi cattle in Shandong and the Nanyang cattle in Henan. The cattle in the north are strong and strong, and they are generally good at cultivating the land at home. The number of chromosomes in the cattle is 120, or 60 pairs, which belong to the bovine genus of the bovine family.
The buffalo, on the other hand, is common in the south and is the main force in paddy farming. Buffalo mainly includes Dechang buffalo, Wenzhou buffalo and Dehong buffalo. The number of chromosomes in buffalo is 48 pairs, belonging to the genus Buffalo in the family Bovine. This is actually the reason why cattle and buffalo cannot cross. Because the number of chromosomes in these two types of cattle is too different. horse
The basis for being able to hybridize with donkeys is that their chromosomes are basically identical. The basic principle of many hybrid cattle is that the number of chromosomes is close. As the two most common types of cattle, cattle and buffalo have not yet had successful crossbreeding. When two animals belong to the same biological genus, rather than the same species, the restrictions of reproductive isolation may be evaded.
And when two creatures are not even in the same genus, it is almost impossible to successfully hybridize, such as horses and donkeys, although they are different species, but they are both creatures of the genus horse. What do you think?