Changes in DNA are known as mutations and can sometimes produce beneficial changes in populations. A mutant form of the ordinarily light-colored peppered moth is dark-colored. The dark-colored moth blends in with soot-covered trees in heavily polluted areas. Why would the dark-colored mutation be beneficial in a polluted area?

Question

GPT-4o mini · Answer

The dark-colored mutation in the peppered moth provides a significant survival advantage in polluted areas due to the concept of natural selection. In environments where pollution has darkened the trees with soot, darker moths are better camouflaged compared to their lighter-colored counterparts.

This camouflage reduces the likelihood of predation by birds and other predators. When the dark-colored moths are less visible against the soot-covered trees, they are more likely to survive and reproduce. Consequently, the dark-colored phenotype becomes more prevalent in the population over time, as the survival of these moths leads to greater reproductive success.

In contrast, the light-colored moths would stand out against the dark background, making them more easily spotted and consumed by predators. As a result, the population of light-colored moths would decrease in polluted areas, while the dark-colored moths thrive.

This example illustrates how mutations that confer an advantage in a specific environment can lead to changes in the frequency of traits within a population, demonstrating the process of natural selection in action.