In which type of natural selection does the peak get higher and narrower ?

Options

A. Balancing selection
B. Directional selection
C. Stabilizing selection
D. Both A & C

Answer

To determine the type of natural selection in which the peak of a population distribution becomes higher and narrower, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understand Natural Selection**: Natural selection is a process where certain traits become more or less common in a population due to the effects of those traits on the survival and reproduction of individuals.

2. **Identify the Types of Natural Selection**: There are three main types of natural selection:
- **Directional Selection**: Favors one extreme phenotype over the others, leading to a shift in the population's traits.
- **Disruptive Selection**: Favors extreme phenotypes at both ends of the spectrum, leading to two or more contrasting phenotypes in the population.
- **Stabilizing Selection**: Favors the average or intermediate phenotypes and reduces variation in the population.

3. **Analyze the Characteristics of Stabilizing Selection**: In stabilizing selection, individuals with traits close to the average are favored. This leads to:
- An increase in the frequency of average traits.
- A decrease in the frequency of extreme traits (both high and low).
- The population distribution curve becomes taller and narrower, resembling a bell-shaped curve.

4. **Conclude the Type of Selection**: Since the question specifically asks about a scenario where the peak of the distribution becomes higher and narrower, this directly corresponds to stabilizing selection. This type of selection maintains the mean trait value while reducing variation.

5. **Final Answer**: The type of natural selection in which the peak gets higher and narrower is called **Stabilizing Selection** (also known as Balancing Selection).