7.3.5

Types of Selection Summary

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Summary of Selection Types

The three types of selection can be summarised in the following ways:

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Stabilising selection

  • Natural selection favours the average phenotype.
  • The selection pressures select against the extreme phenotypes.
  • Takes place in environments that do not change.
Illustrative background for Directional selectionIllustrative background for Directional selection ?? "content

Directional selection

  • Natural selection favours an extreme phenotype.
  • The selection pressures select against all other phenotypes.
  • Takes place after an environment has experienced a change.
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Disruptive selection

  • Natural selection favours the two extremes of a phenotype.
  • The selection pressures select against the average phenotype.
  • Takes place in an environment that favours more than one phenotype.

Jump to other topics

1Biological Molecules

2Cells

3Substance Exchange

4Genetic Information & Variation

5Energy Transfers (A2 only)

6Responding to Change (A2 only)

7Genetics & Ecosystems (A2 only)

8The Control of Gene Expression (A2 only)

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