Question

On desert sand, the light-colored fur of the rock pocket mouse allows it to blend into the environment. Long ago, there was a volcanic eruption in New Mexico’s Valley of Fire. This eruption caused the landscape of the environment to become darker due to the black volcanic rock. Over time, dark-colored fur became more common in the rock pocket mouse population. The dark fur arose from a random mutation that could be passed on to offspring.

Which cells were the origin of the mutation that allowed the trait to become common in the population?

A
Neurons
B
Fur cells
C
Gametes
D
Skin cells

Answer 1

C

The mutation had to occur in gametes (or their germ-line precursors). Only changes in reproductive cells can be passed to offspring and spread through a population; mutations in somatic cells (skin, fur, neurons) are not heritable.