Sponsor Area

Evolution

Question
CBSEENBI12002721

Industrial melanism as observed in peppered moth proves that

  • The true black melanic forms arise by a recurring random mutation.

  • The melanic form of the moth has no selective advantage over lighter form in industrial area

  • The lighter-form moth has no selective advantage either in polluted industrial area or non-polluted area

  • Melanism is a pollution-generated feature

Solution

A.

The true black melanic forms arise by a recurring random mutation.

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.