Scientists have studied, in detail, the evolution of the peppered moth, Biston betularia, over the last two hundred years. The peppered moths rest on tree trunks and
are a tempting treat for birds in the area. In the mid-1800s the trees in their England habitat were covered with lichens, which are a light, grayish-green color. Although
color variations occurred, the vast majority of the moths were light-colored. Because their light coloration effectively camouflaged them against the lichens-covered
trees, they were not as easily seen by birds as darker colored moths. The light colored moths flourished.
The environment changed, as the Industrial Revolution progressed. By 1900, the lichens had died and trees were coated with soot due to industrial pollution. The
lighter colored moths were no longer "hidden" in their environment, and in fact, were easily seen by their predators. Their numbers dwindled. At the same time, the
darker-colored moths flourished because of their ability to hide on the soot-covered trees.

a. What type of selection is this?
b. What is the agent of selection?
c. What alleles were favored in the clean environment? The polluted environment?

Natural selection is the evolutionary mechanism proposed by Charles Darwin, who stated that the environment acts as a selector of characteristics, perpetuating the organisms best able to survive in a given place.

A) moths are being selected because they are under pressure of Natural Selection. Selection is a composite of all the forces that cause differential survival and differential reproduction among genetic variants. Natural selection it is the machine which drives evolution.

B) The agent of selection was Industrial Pollution. Before industrialization , there were more white winged moths on trees than dark winged or melanised moths. But after industrialisation , there were more dark winged moths in the same area. The proportion was reversed.

C) In the clean environment the favored allel was the white winged moth. In the polluted environment the dark winged moth was favored. The area where industrialisation did not occur, the count of melanic moths was low. The area where industrialisation occured ,dark colored moths survived as they were able to camouflage themselves , with the tree trunks that had become dark due to industrial smoke and soot.

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