Speciation is the natural process by which new species emerge from pre-existing species over time. A species is defined as a sum of interbreeding races that are reproductively isolated from other species by mechanisms preventing gene exchange. There are two main types of speciation: general speciation occurring gradually over generations, and polyploidy which can create new species more instantly due to chromosome changes. For speciation to occur, populations must first become reproductively isolated followed by genetic divergence over time.