Changes in DNA are known as mutations and can sometimes produce beneficial changes in populations. A mutant form of the normally light-colored peppered moth is dark colored. The dark-colored moth blends in with soot-covered trees in heavily polluted areas. Why would the dark-colored mutation be beneficial in a polluted area?
A.
They have a longer life span than light-colored moths.
B.
They cannot be seen well by predators.
C.
They taste bad to most of their prey.
D.
They produce more young than do light-colored moths.
1 answer
The correct answer is:
B. They cannot be seen well by predators.
In polluted areas where trees are covered in soot, the dark-colored moths are less visible to predators compared to their light-colored counterparts, making them less likely to be eaten. This gives the dark-colored moths a better chance of surviving and reproducing, which is why the mutation would be beneficial in that environment.
