Diane Dodd raised different fruit fly populations on different food sources. She found that after about 40 generations the evolution of reproductive isolation was under way. The mechanism of evolution responsible for this was
A) natural selection.
B) genetic drift.
C) gene flow.
D) hybridization.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Over 40 generations, the fruit fly populations evolved reproductive isolation, which means they were becoming genetically distinct from one another, reducing their ability to interbreed. This process is likely due to natural selection, as individuals with genetic traits that prevent interbreeding with other populations would have higher fitness and thus be more likely to survive and reproduce. Genetic drift and gene flow can also contribute to evolutionary changes, but are less likely to be responsible for the observed reproductive isolation in this case. Hybridization typically involves the interbreeding of two different species or populations, and is therefore not relevant to the scenario presented.

Diane Dodd Raised Different Fruit Fly Populations on Different Food