Gene C controls fur pigmentation in Himalayan rabbits, which are pictured below. The rabbit on the left has pigmentation on its ears, nose, and feet, where it loses most of its body heat. The rabbit on the right has no fur pigmentation.

Question

What is the best explanation for this difference in pigmentation?
a
Environment affects the expression of the genes for that trait.
b
The genes for dark fur color and light fur color are located on different chromosomes.
c
The type of genes present in the rabbits are related to the surrounding environment.
d
Higher temperatures cause genes to mutate during development.

Answer 1

The best explanation for the difference in pigmentation in Himalayan rabbits is:

a. Environment affects the expression of the genes for that trait.

In Himalayan rabbits, the fur color is influenced by the temperature of the environment. The areas of the body that are cooler (like the ears, nose, and feet, where heat is lost) have darker pigmentation, while warmer areas of the body tend to have lighter pigmentation. This is a classic example of how temperature can affect gene expression in certain animals.