Question

Which type of selection maintains phenotypic stability and does not promote speciation?

Options

• Disruptive selection

• Directional selection

• Stabilising selection

• Artificial selection

Answer 1

Stabilising selection maintains phenotypic stability and does not promote speciation, since it preserves the mean phenotype and reduces variation. Disruptive selection, by contrast, can lead to the formation of new species if gene flow is restricted.