Index: modules/profile/profile.module
===================================================================
RCS file: /cvs/drupal/drupal/modules/profile/profile.module,v
retrieving revision 1.294
diff -u -p -r1.294 profile.module
--- modules/profile/profile.module	1 Oct 2010 15:24:18 -0000	1.294
+++ modules/profile/profile.module	26 Nov 2010 21:58:46 -0000
@@ -436,7 +436,7 @@ function profile_form_alter(&$form, &$fo
         break;
 
       case 'selection':
-        $options = $field->required ? array() : array('--');
+        $options = array();
         $lines = preg_split("/[\n\r]/", $field->options);
         foreach ($lines as $line) {
           if ($line = trim($line)) {
@@ -450,6 +450,7 @@ function profile_form_alter(&$form, &$fo
           '#options' => $options,
           '#description' => _profile_form_explanation($field),
           '#required' => $field->required,
+          '#empty_value' => 0,
         );
         break;