Topics
Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants
- Flower
- Pre-fertilisation in Flowering Plant: Structures and Events
- Structure and Development of Anther
- Microsporogenesis
- Structure and Development of Male Gametophyte
- Pollen Viability and Storage
- Structure and Development of Ovule
- Megasporogenesis
- Development of Female Gametophyte or Embryo Sac
- Pollination
- Autogamy
- Geitonogamy
- Cross-pollination
- Agents of Pollination
- Anemophily
- Hydrophily
- Animal-Mediated Pollination (Zoophily)
- Outbreeding Devices
- Pollen Pistil Interaction
- Artificial Hybridization or Artificial Fertilization
- Double Fertilization and Triple Fusion
- Events in Sexual Reproduction > Post-Fertilization Structures and Events
- Endosperm
- Dicotyledonous Embryo
- Monocotyledonous Embryo
- The Seed
- Apomixis
- Polyembryony
Reproduction
Reproduction in Organisms
Human Reproduction
- Human Reproduction
- The Male Reproductive System
- The Female Reproductive System
- Gametogenesis
- Spermatogenesis
- Structure of Sperm
- Spermiogenesis
- Oogenesis
- Menstrual Cycle (Ovarian Cycle)
- Major Events of Menstrual Cycle
- Menstrual Hygiene
- Fertilization in Human
- Implantation in Human
- Pregnancy and Embryonic Development
- Parturition (Birth) in Human
- Lactation in Human
Genetics and Evolution
Reproductive Health
- Concept of Reproductive Health
- Population Explosion and Control Measures
- Birth Control
- Natural Contraceptive Methods
- Artificial Contraceptive Methods
- Induced Abortion or Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP)
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) or Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI)
- Infertility
- Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)
- Amniocentesis
- Genetic Counselling
Biology and Human Welfare
Environmental Issues
- Controlling Vehicular Air Pollution: a Case Study of Delhi
- Effects of Domestic Sewage and Industrial Effluents on Water
- Solid Wastes
- Radioactive Wastes
- Greenhouse Effect and Climate Change
- Ozone Depletion in the Stratosphere
- Degradation by Improper Resource Utilisation and Maintenance
- Radioactive Waste Management and E-waste
Principles of Inheritance and Variation
- Heredity and Variation
- Gregor Johann Mendel – Father of Genetics
- Mendel's Experiments on Inheritance
- Monohybrid Cross
- Punnett Square
- Back Cross and Test Cross
- Mendel's Laws > The Law of Dominance
- Mendel's Laws > The Law of Segregation (Law of Purity of Gametes)
- Exceptions to Mendel's Principles > Incomplete Dominance
- Exceptions to Mendel's Principles > Co-Dominance
- Dihybrid Cross
- Mendel's Laws > The Law of Independent Assortment
- Chromosomal Theory of Inheritance
- Linkage and Recombination
- Polygenic Inheritance
- Exceptions to Mendel's Principles > Pleiotropy
- Sex Determination
- Sex Determination in Humans
- Sex Determination in Honey Bees
- Mutations
- Pedigree Analysis
- Mendelian Disorders in Humans
- Chromosomal Disorders or Abnormalities
Biotechnology
Molecular Basis of Inheritance
- Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)
- Structure of Polynucleotide Chain
- Packaging of DNA Helix
- Search for Genetic Material
- Griffith’s Experiment
- Avery, McCarty and MacLeod’s Experiment
- The Hershey-Chase Experiment
- Properties of Genetic Material
- The RNA World
- DNA Replication
- Conservative Replication
- Dispersive Replication
- Semi-Conservative Replication
- Meselson and Stahl’s Experiment
- Enzymes used in DNA Replication
- Mechanism of DNA Replication
- Protein Synthesis
- Reverse Transcription (Teminism)
- Transcription
- Transcription Unit and the Gene
- Process of Transcription in Bacteria
- Process of Transcription in Eukaryotes
- Genetic Code
- Characteristics of the Genetic Code
- Mutations and Genetic Code
- Transfer RNA (tRNA)
- Translation
- Regulation of Gene Expression
- The Lac Operon
- Human Genome Project
- DNA Fingerprinting
Ecology
Evolution
- Origin of Life on Earth
- Urey and Miller’s Experiment
- Evolution of Life Forms - a Theory
- Evidences Supporting the Theory of Evolution
- Adaptive Radiation
- Theories and Mechanism of Evolution
- Theories and Mechanism of Evolution
- Hardy Weinberg’s Principle
- Types of Selection
- Brief Account of Evolution
- Human Evolution
Human Health and Diseases
- Concept and Determinants of Health
- Modes of Transmission of Diseases through Pathogens
- Diseases Caused by Bacteria > Typhoid
- Diseases Caused by Bacteria > Pneumonia
- Diseases Caused by Viruses > Common Cold
- Diseases Caused by Protozoa > Malaria
- Diseases Caused by Protozoa > Amoebiasis (Amoeboic dysentery)
- Diseases Caused by Helminths > Ascariasis
- Diseases Caused by Helminths > Filariasis (Elephantiasis)
- Diseases Caused by Fungi > Ringworm
- Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases
- Immunity
- Types of Immunity > Innate Immunity
- Types of Immunity > Acquired Immunity
- Vaccination and Immunization
- Allergies
- Autoimmunity
- The Immune System
- Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
- Cancer
- Causes of Cancer
- Symptoms and Diagnosis of Cancer
- Prevention/Treatment of Cancer
- Drugs and Alcohol Abuse
- Addiction and Dependence
- Effects of Drug and Alcohol Abuse
- Prevention and Control of Drugs and Alcohol Abuse
Strategies for Enhancement in Food Production
Microbes in Human Welfare
Biotechnology - Principles and Processes
Biotechnology and Its Application
Organisms and Populations
- Organisms and Their Environment
- Population and Population Attributes
- Population Growth
- Life History Variation
- Population Interactions
- Negative Interactions > Predation
- Negative Interactions > Competition
- Negative Interactions > Parasitism
- Positive Interactions > Commensalism
- Positive Interactions > Mutualism (Symbiosis)
Ecosystem
Biodiversity and Its Conservation
Estimated time: 11 minutes
CISCE: Class 12
Types of Selection
A-D. Diagrammatic representation of the operation of natural selection on different traits: A. phenotypes favoured by natural selection; B. stabilising; C. directional; D. disruptive

CISCE: Class 12
1. Stabilising Selection
- Conditions: Operates in all populations when phenotypic features align with optimal environmental conditions and competition is not severe.
- Mechanism: It tends to eliminate extreme traits from the population.
- Evolutionary Impact: It does not promote evolutionary change; instead, it maintains phenotypic stability within the population from generation to generation.
CISCE: Class 12
2. Directional Selection
- Conditions: Operates in response to gradual changes in environmental conditions.
- Mechanism: It exerts selection pressure that shifts the mean phenotype toward one specific phenotypic extreme. Once the new optimum is reached, stabilising selection takes over.
- Evolutionary Impact: It drives evolutionary change by increasing the frequency of new alleles in a specific direction.
- Application: It forms the basis of artificial selection, where selective breeding for desirable traits continuously increases their frequency in the population's gene pool.
CISCE: Class 12
3. Disruptive Selection
- Conditions: The rarest form of selection, driven by fluctuating environmental conditions (such as varying seasons and climates) that favour more than one phenotype.
- Mechanism: Increased internal competition pushes phenotypes away from the population mean and towards the extreme ends.
- Evolutionary Impact: It can split a population into two distinct sub-populations. If gene flow between these groups is prevented, each sub-population may ultimately evolve into a new species.
CISCE: Class 12
Key Points: Type of Selection
| Type of Selection | Meaning | Effect on Population | Evolutionary Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stabilising Selection | Selection that favours intermediate phenotypes and eliminates extreme forms | Maintains the mean phenotype and reduces variation | Maintains phenotypic stability; does not promote speciation |
| Directional Selection | Selection that favours one extreme phenotype due to environmental change | Shifts the mean phenotype in one direction | Leads to evolutionary change and adaptation; basis of artificial selection |
| Disruptive Selection | Selection that favours both extreme phenotypes over the intermediate | Splits population into two distinct phenotypic groups | Can lead to formation of new species if gene flow is restricted |
