NEET · BiologyHard
Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the concept of disruptive selection in a population?
- A.Average birth weight in humans is favored over extremes.
- B.Beak size in birds shifts toward larger sizes due to drought.
- C.Both small and large seeds are preferred by different finch populations, leading to two distinct phenotypes.
- D.Pesticide resistance increases uniformly across a population.
Show correct answer & step-by-step solution
Correct answer: C — Both small and large seeds are preferred by different finch populations, leading to two distinct phenotypes.
Solution
- Disruptive selection occurs when environmental conditions favor individuals at both extremes of the phenotypic range.
- Intermediate phenotypes are selected against, reducing their frequency in the population.
- This process results in the maintenance of two or more distinct phenotypes.
- Option (C) describes the selection for two distinct seed-handling phenotypes, which is a classic example of disruptive selection.
- Hence the answer is (C).
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