Peppered Moth Natural Selection Study

The video discusses the peppered moth as a classic example of evolution in action, highlighting the shift in moth populations during the Industrial Age. It critiques the original experiments by Kettlewell, addressing claims of fraud and staged photos. The video defends Kettlewell's methods, explaining the scientific controls used and the challenges of studying live moths. It also presents recent replications of Kettlewell's work, confirming his findings. The video concludes by debunking misconceptions and affirming the study's validity.

What environmental change during the Industrial Age affected the peppered moth population?

• Increased rainfall

• Coal burning and pollution

• Deforestation

• Introduction of new predators

What was one of the main criticisms of the peppered moth study?

• The moths were not real

• The moths do not rest on tree trunks

• The moths were a different species

• The study was conducted in a laboratory

What genetic factor is responsible for the color variation in the peppered moth?

• Environmental adaptation

• A complex gene network

• A single nucleotide change

• Multiple gene mutations

What was Kettlewell's hypothesis regarding the peppered moth?

• Moths change color based on diet

• Moths are unaffected by pollution

• Bird predation creates a fitness advantage for certain colors

• Moths migrate to different areas

How did Kettlewell ensure that moths were equally available to birds in his experiment?

• By observing moths in a laboratory

• By using artificial moths

• By placing dead moths on tree trunks

• By using live moths only

What was the outcome of Michael Madras's replication of Kettlewell's experiments?

• He disproved Kettlewell's hypothesis

• He was unable to complete the experiments

• He confirmed Kettlewell's findings with some variation

• He found completely different results

What was the main reason for the return of the lighter-colored moths in England?

• Increased predation by birds

• Reduction in air pollution

• Changes in tree species

• Introduction of new moth species

What did Kettlewell's experiments demonstrate about natural selection?

• It is a slow process

• It can be observed through changes in moth populations

• It is not influenced by environmental changes

• It only affects large animals

What was a key factor in the criticism of Kettlewell's experimental design?

• The use of only one type of moth

• The absence of bird predators

• The lack of control groups

• The use of artificial environments

What did the clean air legislation in England lead to in terms of moth population?

• An increase in the darker moths

• No change in moth populations

• A return to pre-industrial moth population ratios

• The extinction of the peppered moth