Mark I. Vuletic

Last updated 21 March 2008

Analysis

Industrial melanism in the peppered moth was never intended as an example of speciation in the first place, but rather as an example of microevolution through natural selection. If the standard account of the peppered moth is correct, then industrial melanism does in fact constitute an example of evolution; one must simply be clear about exactly what is being claimed.

I should comment briefly on the recent flap surrounding the peppered moth experiments. A few respectable scientists argued relatively recently that the original peppered moth experiments were flawed. In typical fashion, a number of disreputable creationists seized upon this and blew it all out of proportion, claiming that the experiments had been hoaxes, or that they did not demonstrate natural selection at all. One should read this letter by Bruce Grant, one of the reputable scientists in question, who rebuts the charge that fraud was involved in the peppered moth experiment, and affirms that the original experiment does indeed demonstrate natural selection quite clearly. Kenneth R. Miller also provides a very readable presentation of the whole matter.