Biology Question - Argument with teacher?

Question

My teacher seems to think that interbreeding is two individuals producing FERTILE offspring. But I think interbreeding is two different SPECIES producing VIABLE offspring. It is a question regarding a test that i had conducted, and this was an important detail in the test. Thus, if you could please give me viable resources in which I can pose the teacher with, or (if im wrong) i can understand the topic better.

Answer 1

"Interbreeding" is too vague a word for us to settle your argument. It could mean anything from breeding across population lines to across generic lines and ,yes, despite what the geneticists have brainwashed many teachers to "think", there are fish that are completely interfertile with those in another genus.

Answer 2

Your teacher is correct. Breeding AND producing fertile offspring (Interbreeding) is a common test to determine if 2 organisms are the same species.



EXAMPLES:



Gray Wolf + German shepherd = fertile puppies Conclusion: Gray Wolf and German shepherd are the same species, Canis lupus Gray Wolf and German sheperd can interbreed.



Horse + donkey = mule (viable but not fertile) Conclusion: Horse and donkey are NOT the same species. Though they are close enough on the evolutionary scale to produce viable offspring. Horse and donkey cannot interbreed

Answer 3

I thought it depended on context. The definition seems to agree that both are correct.

"in·ter·breed (ĭn′tər-brēd′)

v. in·ter·bred (-brĕd′), in·ter·breed·ing, in·ter·breeds

v.intr.

1. To breed with individuals of another species, subspecies, or variety; crossbreed: dogs interbreeding with wolves.

2. To breed regularly with others of the same kind: a species as a group of individuals that interbreed."