Question

(Part 1 of 2)

A random mutation introduced a new gene into a rabbit population. That mutation created a variation in fur color, giving some rabbits a mottled brown (speckled) coloring.

Based on the population data provided, what can you conclude about the mottled gene mutation?

Generation Brown Fur Mottled Brown 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


(1 point)
Responses

The rabbits with the mottled gene mutation gained a survival advantage that allowed them to survive and reproduce better than the other rabbits.
The rabbits with the mottled gene mutation gained a survival advantage that allowed them to survive and reproduce better than the other rabbits.

There was really no advantage for those with mottled fur over those with brown or white fur. All three populations held steady over 10 generations.
There was really no advantage for those with mottled fur over those with brown or white fur. All three populations held steady over 10 generations.

The mottled fur is a negative mutation, negatively impacting the rabbits' ability to survive.

Answer 1

Based on the population data provided and the trend observed over the ten generations, we can conclude that:

**The rabbits with the mottled gene mutation gained a survival advantage that allowed them to survive and reproduce better than the other rabbits.**

This conclusion is supported by the increasing number of mottled brown fur rabbits from generation 1 to generation 10, while the populations of brown and white fur rabbits show a decreasing trend. The significant rise in the mottled brown population suggests that this trait provided some sort of advantage in this environment, allowing these rabbits to survive and reproduce more effectively than those with brown or white fur.