Question
Fur Color in Rabbits
Generation Brown Fur Mottled Fur White Fur
1 45 0 1
2 47 2 3
3 48 10 1
4 45 18 2
5 44 26 3
6 42 34 2
7 40 45 4
8 38 58 3
9 33 67 5
10 22 89 4
A student wants to know the effect a mutation might have on a species’ survival. The change causes a rabbit to have mottled brown fur. The student runs a computer simulation for ten generations. What possible conclusions can you draw? Choose ALL that apply.
Responses
A Evolution occurred because the allele frequency changed over time.Evolution occurred because the allele frequency changed over time.
B Evolution is not occurring, mutation just introduced a new trait in the gene pool.Evolution is not occurring, mutation just introduced a new trait in the gene pool.
C The rabbits with mottled brown fur have a selective advantage that gives them more camouflage from predators.The rabbits with mottled brown fur have a selective advantage that gives them more camouflage from predators.
D The mottled brown fur mutation is neutral because the other fur color traits still appear in the rabbit population.The mottled brown fur mutation is neutral because the other fur color traits still appear in the rabbit population.
E The mutation had a positive effect, allowing those rabbits with the mottled brown fur to survive and reproduce better than those with the brown or white fur.The mutation had a positive effect, allowing those rabbits with the mottled brown fur to survive and reproduce better than those with the brown or white fur.
Generation Brown Fur Mottled Fur White Fur
1 45 0 1
2 47 2 3
3 48 10 1
4 45 18 2
5 44 26 3
6 42 34 2
7 40 45 4
8 38 58 3
9 33 67 5
10 22 89 4
A student wants to know the effect a mutation might have on a species’ survival. The change causes a rabbit to have mottled brown fur. The student runs a computer simulation for ten generations. What possible conclusions can you draw? Choose ALL that apply.
Responses
A Evolution occurred because the allele frequency changed over time.Evolution occurred because the allele frequency changed over time.
B Evolution is not occurring, mutation just introduced a new trait in the gene pool.Evolution is not occurring, mutation just introduced a new trait in the gene pool.
C The rabbits with mottled brown fur have a selective advantage that gives them more camouflage from predators.The rabbits with mottled brown fur have a selective advantage that gives them more camouflage from predators.
D The mottled brown fur mutation is neutral because the other fur color traits still appear in the rabbit population.The mottled brown fur mutation is neutral because the other fur color traits still appear in the rabbit population.
E The mutation had a positive effect, allowing those rabbits with the mottled brown fur to survive and reproduce better than those with the brown or white fur.The mutation had a positive effect, allowing those rabbits with the mottled brown fur to survive and reproduce better than those with the brown or white fur.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
Based on the data provided on the fur color of rabbits over ten generations, we can analyze the potential conclusions as follows:
1. **A: Evolution occurred because the allele frequency changed over time.**
- **True.** The increase in mottled fur (from 0 to 89) and the fluctuation of brown and white fur traits over the generations indicate changes in allele frequencies, suggesting evolution is occurring.
2. **B: Evolution is not occurring; mutation just introduced a new trait in the gene pool.**
- **False.** While the mutation introduced a new trait, the changes in allele frequencies indicate that evolution is in fact occurring.
3. **C: The rabbits with mottled brown fur have a selective advantage that gives them more camouflage from predators.**
- **Likely true.** The significant increase in mottled fur rabbits suggests they might have a selective advantage, potentially due to better camouflage, leading to greater survival and reproduction rates.
4. **D: The mottled brown fur mutation is neutral because the other fur color traits still appear in the rabbit population.**
- **False.** The fact that the mottled trait is increasing in frequency indicates it is not neutral, as it appears to confer some advantage, even if other traits remain prevalent.
5. **E: The mutation had a positive effect, allowing those rabbits with the mottled brown fur to survive and reproduce better than those with the brown or white fur.**
- **True.** The progressive increase in the number of mottled fur rabbits implies that these rabbits likely have a survival advantage, indicating that the mutation had a positive effect on their fitness.
In summary, the valid conclusions from the options provided are A, C, and E.
1. **A: Evolution occurred because the allele frequency changed over time.**
- **True.** The increase in mottled fur (from 0 to 89) and the fluctuation of brown and white fur traits over the generations indicate changes in allele frequencies, suggesting evolution is occurring.
2. **B: Evolution is not occurring; mutation just introduced a new trait in the gene pool.**
- **False.** While the mutation introduced a new trait, the changes in allele frequencies indicate that evolution is in fact occurring.
3. **C: The rabbits with mottled brown fur have a selective advantage that gives them more camouflage from predators.**
- **Likely true.** The significant increase in mottled fur rabbits suggests they might have a selective advantage, potentially due to better camouflage, leading to greater survival and reproduction rates.
4. **D: The mottled brown fur mutation is neutral because the other fur color traits still appear in the rabbit population.**
- **False.** The fact that the mottled trait is increasing in frequency indicates it is not neutral, as it appears to confer some advantage, even if other traits remain prevalent.
5. **E: The mutation had a positive effect, allowing those rabbits with the mottled brown fur to survive and reproduce better than those with the brown or white fur.**
- **True.** The progressive increase in the number of mottled fur rabbits implies that these rabbits likely have a survival advantage, indicating that the mutation had a positive effect on their fitness.
In summary, the valid conclusions from the options provided are A, C, and E.