Introduction

In the mid-19th century, the Industrial Revolution brought about significant changes in the environment, including air pollution. This pollution led to the darkening of tree trunks, which in turn affected the color of moths. The peppered moth, which was originally light-colored, became darker to blend in with the polluted environment. This phenomenon was observed by many scientists, including Bernard Kettlewell, who conducted experiments to determine if the darker moths lived longer than their lighter counterparts.

Kettlewell’s Experiment

Kettlewell conducted his experiment in the 1950s by releasing moths of different colors into a polluted environment. He released both light-colored and dark-colored moths onto tree trunks and observed their survival rates. He repeated the experiment in a non-polluted environment to compare the results.

Kettlewell found that in the polluted environment, the darker moths had a higher survival rate than the lighter moths. This was because the darker moths were better camouflaged against the darkened tree trunks. In the non-polluted environment, the lighter moths had a higher survival rate because they were better camouflaged against the lighter tree trunks.

Conclusion

Kettlewell’s experiment provided evidence for natural selection and the role of the environment in shaping the characteristics of a species. The experiment also demonstrated the importance of camouflage in survival. Kettlewell’s work has been widely recognized and has contributed to the understanding of evolution and adaptation.