Question

The Peppered Moth has shown a shift from a light color to a dark color. If this is an example of directional selection, what will happen to the Peppered Moth's color in future generations if the directional selection continues?
A) It will continue to get darker
B) It will revert back to light again
C) It will be a medium shade
D) It will be either dark or light.

Answer 1

Answer:

The answer is letter A, It will continue to get darker.

Explanation:

Adaptive Evolution is a process on how a population inherits traits in the future. This includes natural selection, directional selection, sexual selection, diversifying selection, etc.

Directional Selection- this happens when a particular population of an organism selects for specific phenotypes in order to adapt to its changing environment.

In the case of the Peppered Moth, it's change in color from light to dark is caused by the air pollution that occurred during the Industrial Revolution in England. It changed its color in order to adapt to the dirt or soot that settled in the environment. Peppered moths were originally white in color. This allowed them to camouflage in their clean environment.

If the directional selection continues, that would mean the Peppered Moth will continue to get darker. The thicker the air pollution, the darker it will be. If the air pollution will be lessened, then it will become lighter again.