What influences the genetic divergence of newly formed species?

The selection of the amount of time elapsed since sharing a common ancestor as a factor influencing genetic divergence of newly formed species is well-founded. In evolutionary biology, the longer populations of organisms are separated, the more opportunities they have to accumulate genetic differences due to mutation, natural selection, genetic drift, and other evolutionary processes.

As these populations experience different environmental pressures and evolutionary paths over time, their genetic makeup begins to diverge. This divergence can lead to speciation, where the two populations become distinct species. The accumulation of genetic changes over extended periods fundamentally contributes to the differences in traits, behaviors, and adaptations between the two emerging species.

While factors like gene flow, population size, and mating preferences are certainly important in shaping the dynamics of species and their evolution, the element of time is critical in allowing for the significant genetic changes that characterize the process of speciation. Thus, the duration since populations diverged from their common ancestor is a core driver behind their genetic divergence.