classic species concept

The classic species concept defines a species as a group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring in natural conditions. This means that members of the same species share common characteristics and are distinct from other groups. For example, dogs are a separate species from cats because they cannot naturally mate and produce viable offspring together. This concept focuses on reproductive isolation, meaning that if two groups cannot reproduce with each other, they are considered different species. While this idea is widely used, it may not apply to all living things, like plants or bacteria, where reproduction can be more complex.