Genetic divergence is the process in which two or more populations of an ancestral species accumulate independent genetic changes (
mutations) through time, often after the populations have become
reproductively isolated for some period of time. This means that the populations of species live independently of each other long enough that they can no longer produce offspring that can survive. In some cases, subpopulations living in
ecologically distinct peripheral environments can exhibit genetic divergence from the remainder of a population, especially where the range of a population is very large (see
parapatric speciation). The genetic differences among divergent populations can involve
silent mutations (that have no effect on the
phenotype) or give rise to significant
morphological and/or
physiological changes.