BiologyIndustrial Melanism – Componenets of Natural Selection and FAQ

Industrial Melanism – Componenets of Natural Selection and FAQ

Industrial Melanism

Industrial melanism is a term used to describe an evolutionary change that occurs in some species of organisms, in which the color of their skin, fur, or feathers becomes darker as a result of exposure to industrial pollutants. The term was first coined in the early 1900s, when a dramatic increase in the number of black peppered moths was observed in the industrial cities of England.

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    In the early 1800s, a scientist named Edward Blyth noticed that some of the peppered moths near his home in England were darker than others. At the time, most people believed that moths were white because that’s what the Bible said. Blyth began to wonder if the darker moths were better camouflaged against the sooty tree trunks near his home and were, therefore, more likely to survive.

    To test his hypothesis, Blyth captured some of the light and dark moths and put them in cages. He then exposed them to different levels of light and darkness. He found that the darker moths were better camouflaged against the sooty tree trunks and were, therefore, more likely to survive.

    Blyth’s findings were published in a scientific journal in 1856. However, they were largely ignored

    It wasn’t until the 1950s that scientists began to take Blyth’s findings seriously. They discovered that the dark moths were more likely to survive because they had a higher level of melanin, a pigment that helps to protect the skin from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays.

    Today, scientists know that industrial melanism is a natural selection process that occurs when an organism becomes better adapted to its environment.

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