Question

Describe the difference in outcome between weak and strong disruptive selection.

Answer 1

Weak disruptive selection encourages diversity by favoring extremes within a population. On the other hand, strong disruptive selection can drive the population to split into distinct groups, potentially leading to speciation.

Answer 2

Disruptive selection occurs when phenotypes in the middle of the range are selected against, resulting in two overlapping phenotypes at each end of the distribution. Weak disruptive selection refers to a less extreme form of disruptive selection where the phenotypes at each end of the distribution are not as distinct as in strong disruptive selection.

Step-by-step explanation:

Disruptive selection occurs when phenotypes in the middle of the range are selected against, resulting in two overlapping phenotypes at each end of the distribution. For example, sexual dimorphism in humans results in differences between the phenotypes of males and females, such as different heights and body shapes. On the other hand, weak disruptive selection refers to a less extreme form of disruptive selection where the phenotypes at each end of the distribution are not as distinct as in strong disruptive selection. This leads to a less pronounced overlap between the two phenotypes.