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Evolution

Question
CBSEENBI12001892

How does industrial melanism support Darwin’s theory of Natural Selection? Explain.

Solution

Darwin's theory of natural selection is a process in which the organisms which have favourable variations in order to survive in the changed environment are selected by the nature to continue their generations and the rest fail to survive. Industrial melanism also showed the same case as was explained by Darwin’s theory of natural selection.

Industrial melanism - In England, it was noted that before industrial revolution, the number of white-winged moths was much more than that of dark melanised moth. However, after industrialisation, the number of dark moths increased. This happened because; the industrialization caused the tree trunks to become darker with deposits of soot and smoke. Hence, the dark moths increased as they escaped the predators as they were not easily visible while the white-winged ones were easily picked up. Thus, dark ones were selected by nature (natural selection) and light ones failed to survive.