This expression refers to a phenomenon in genetics which relates to the distribution of characteristics of the population. This is believed to be the primary mechanism of natural selection, and is weighted against extreme genetic characteristics. Stabilizing selection is believed to retain viable characteristics within a species and is believed to be responsible for species like sharks, roosterroaches and trees retaining common morphologies another fundamental characteristics. |
Examples of Stabilizing Selection:
In humans, certain characteristics can be anti-survival. Extremes of birth weight for example,can be a liability to both overweight and underweight children. The observed phenomenon is an average birth weight range, which avoids the liabilities caused by these characteristics. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stabilizing_selection https://www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/bc/ahp/LAD/C21/C21_Stabilizing.html |
![]() A chart showing three types of selection. |