Finding genetic changes behind moths' coloration
Friday, April 15, 2011 - 20:00
in Biology & Nature
In a famous example of natural selection, English moths began turning black as soot darkened their trees. Now scientists are closing in on the DNA fingerprint behind the shift.During the Industrial Revolution in 19th century England, black moths started appearing — because they blended in better on pollution-darkened tree trunks than did normal, speckled moths. Now scientists are closing in on the genetic change responsible for that classic example of natural selection.