Overview
Disruptive selection is a fascinating mechanism of evolution that promotes diversity within populations by favoring extreme traits. This process can lead to the emergence of new species as organisms adapt to different ecological niches. By understanding disruptive selection, we gain insights into th...
Key Terms
Example: The peppered moth changing color during the Industrial Revolution.
Example: Flower color in plants.
Example: The alleles for flower color in a plant.
Example: Darwin's finches evolving into different species.
Example: Antibiotic resistance in bacteria.
Example: Human birth weight.
Related Topics
Directional Selection
A type of natural selection that favors one extreme phenotype over others, leading to a shift in the population's traits.
intermediateStabilizing Selection
A selection process that favors average traits, reducing variation in a population.
intermediateGenetic Drift
Random changes in allele frequencies that can significantly impact small populations.
advancedAdaptive Radiation
The rapid evolution of diversely adapted species from a common ancestor.
advancedKey Concepts
Natural SelectionPhenotypic VariationPopulation GeneticsAdaptive Evolution