Question

There are different types of selection which can operate in a population of a given species.

The effects of each type of selection can be shown by considering the effect on a normal distribution curve.
Name the two types of selection:

Answer 1

The two main types of selection in a population are stabilizing selection, where intermediate phenotypes are favored, and directional selection, where one extreme phenotype is favored. These selections impact the phenotypic distribution within a population.

Step-by-step explanation:

Types of Natural Selection

In biology, different types of selection operate in a population, which can be illustrated when considering the effects on a normal distribution curve. The two main types of selection are:

1. Stabilizing selection - This type occurs when intermediate phenotypes are favored over extremes, leading to reduced variation and a focus on the average.
2. Directional selection - Happens when one extreme phenotype is favored over all others, causing a shift in the population's phenotypic distribution towards that extreme phenotype.

Aside from these, there is also diversifying selection, which favors multiple extreme phenotypes over the average ones, effectively increasing genetic variance in a population.