Question

Industrial melanism as observed in peppered moth proves that:-

• A. Melanism is a pollution-generated feature
• B. The true black melanic forms arise by a recurring random mutation
• C. The melanic form of the moth has no selective advantage over lighter form in industrial area
• D. The lighter-form the moth has no selective advantage either in polluted industrial area or non-polluted area

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

The true black melanic forms arise by a recurring random mutation

Answer 2

Industrial melanism is a term used to describe the evolutionary process in which darker individuals come to predominate over lighter individuals since the industrial revolution as a result of natural selection. In 1848 a black form of the moth was recorded in Manchester and by 1895, 98% of the peppered moth population in Manchester was black. This black "melanic" form arose by a recurring random mutation, but its phenotypic appearance had a strong selective advantage in industrial areas.