Question

A scientist wrote a paper titled “Directional Selection in Action” after observing a population of mice for 15 years. The mice typically preferred to eat berries, although a few would also eat insects. After a drought in year 3, the scientist observed that more mice were eating insects. By year 10, most of the mice in the population ate insects in addition to berries. Which best describes her article?

Her title is accurate because two opposite extremes are favored.
Her title is accurate because one extreme is favored.
She should change her title because she is observing stabilizing selection.
She should change her title because selection cannot be observed.

Answer 1

b, on ed2020

Answer 2

The correct option is B) Her title is accurate because one extreme is favored.

Step-by-step explanation:

In ecological studies, directional selection can be described as a selection due to which an extreme phenotype is favoured by natural selection and evolution causes the change in allele frequencies in favour of the extreme phenotype.

In the condition described in the question, the phenotype for eating insects was the extreme phenotype which was favoured by natural selection. The allele frequency for this extreme phenotype became abundant due to evolution. Hence, option B is correct.