What type of natural selection favors intermediate phenotypes while selecting against both extreme phenotypic variations, reducing genetic variance in a population?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: C. Stabilizing selection
- Step 1: Stabilizing selection favors average, intermediate phenotypic traits and culls extreme variants from the population (e.g., human infant birth weight, where very low and very high birth weights have lower survival rates).
Answer
Stabilizing selection.
Why not the others: 'Directional selection' favors one extreme phenotype over others; 'Disruptive selection' favors both extreme variants against intermediate forms; 'Sexual selection' favors traits that enhance mating success.
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