Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video
Multiple Choice
How can directional selection contribute to the formation of a new species?
A
By maintaining genetic diversity within a population.
B
By increasing the mutation rate within a population.
C
By favoring extreme phenotypes, leading to reproductive isolation over time.
D
By eliminating all phenotypic variation in a population.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the concept of directional selection: Directional selection is a type of natural selection that favors one extreme phenotype over others, causing a shift in the population's trait distribution.
Recognize how directional selection affects phenotypes: In directional selection, individuals with traits at one extreme of the spectrum are more likely to survive and reproduce, leading to an increase in those traits in the population.
Explore the link to reproductive isolation: As directional selection favors extreme phenotypes, these individuals may become reproductively isolated from the rest of the population due to differences in mating preferences or environmental adaptations.
Consider the role of reproductive isolation in speciation: Reproductive isolation is a key factor in speciation, as it prevents gene flow between populations, allowing them to evolve independently.
Connect the process to the formation of new species: Over time, the accumulation of genetic differences and adaptations in isolated populations can lead to the emergence of new species, driven by the initial directional selection.