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During the British Industrial Revolution of the 19th Century observations of the Peppered Moth (above) lead to an amazing discovery. In the dirty, soot covered, urban and industrial area the charcoal coloured variety of this moth became more common than the typical pale variety shown here. This in an example of an evolutionary directional colour change, where the dark moths had a survival advantage and over generations became the dominent form in certain areas. The genetic mutation responsible for the dark form may only have occured in the first decades of the 19th century, but by 1895 it was reported that in Manchester 98% were the dark variety. In the late 20th century with the introduction of cleaner air, changes in technology and the decline of heavy industry, the dark form had become scarce once again. The moths place in evolutionary biology was secured.
During the British Industrial Revolution of the 19th Century observations of the Peppered Moth (above) lead to an amazing discovery. In the dirty, soot covered, urban and industrial area the charcoal coloured variety of this moth became more common than the typical pale variety shown here. This in an example of an evolutionary directional colour change, where the dark moths had a survival advantage and over generations became the dominent form in certain areas. The genetic mutation responsible for the dark form may only have occured in the first decades of the 19th century, but by 1895 it was reported that in Manchester 98% were the dark variety. In the late 20th century with the introduction of cleaner air, changes in technology and the decline of heavy industry, the dark form had become scarce once again. The moths place in evolutionary biology was secured.
During the British Industrial Revolution of the 19th Century observations of the Peppered Moth (above) lead to an amazing discovery. In the dirty, soot covered, urban and industrial area the charcoal coloured variety of this moth became more common than the typical pale variety shown here. This in an example of an evolutionary directional colour change, where the dark moths had a survival advantage and over generations became the dominent form in certain areas. The genetic mutation responsible for the dark form may only have occured in the first decades of the 19th century, but by 1895 it was reported that in Manchester 98% were the dark variety. In the late 20th century with the introduction of cleaner air, changes in technology and the decline of heavy industry, the dark form had become scarce once again. The moths place in evolutionary biology was secured.