preview

Directional Selection And Disruptive Selection

Decent Essays

Directional selection and disruptive selection have quite a bit in common; however, they also have some contraries. Their biggest likeness is that they are both subcategories of natural selection. Natural selection is the process that results in adaptation of a population to the biotic and abiotic atmospheres. Directional selection takes place when an exaggerated phenotype is favored and the distribution curve alters in that direction. Such a shift can happen when a population is adjusting to a changing environment. Disruptive selection occurs when two or more extreme phenotypes are favored over any other ordinary phenotype. These two selections differ in that directional requires only one extreme phenotype whereas disruptive requires at least two. A prime example of a directional selection, is resistance to antibiotic treatment as well as insecticides. The extensive application of antibiotics and pesticides eventually develops populations of bacteria and insects that have grown resistant to the chemicals. When an antibiotic is employed, some bacteria may survive because they are genetically defiant to the treatment. These particular bacteria are likely to provide such genes for the next generation. As an outcome, the number of bacterial defiance continues to increase. Disruptive selection favors polymorphism, which is the happenings of different forms in a population of the exact same species. With thatstatement made, a classic example of disruptive selection would be that

Get Access