Interbreeding between two populations can occur if they belong to the same

Options

A. Order
B. Family
C. Species
D. Genus

Answer

To answer the question "Interbreeding between two populations can occur if they belong to the same...", we need to understand the concept of species and how it relates to interbreeding.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understand the Concept of Interbreeding**: Interbreeding refers to the ability of two populations to mate and produce viable offspring. This is a key concept in the biological definition of species.

2. **Identify Taxonomic Ranks**: Organisms are classified into various taxonomic ranks such as kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species. Each rank groups organisms based on shared characteristics.

3. **Focus on Species**: Among these taxonomic ranks, the species level is the most specific. Members of the same species share the most similar characteristics and can interbreed successfully.

4. **Examples of Interbreeding**: For example, humans from different populations (e.g., USA and UK) belong to the same species (Homo sapiens) and can interbreed. In contrast, a horse (Equus caballus) and a zebra (Equus zebra) belong to the same genus (Equus) but are different species and cannot produce viable offspring together.

5. **Conclusion**: Therefore, interbreeding can only occur between populations that belong to the same species. This is because only individuals of the same species can successfully mate and produce fertile offspring.

### Final Answer:
Interbreeding between two populations can occur if they belong to the same **species**.

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