A species of fox lives in the arctic where the ground is covered in white snow most of the year. These arctic foxes hunt rodents and other small mammals, while their predators include eagles, wolves, and polar bears. A mutation in its DNA causes a fox to have white fur rather than brown. Given this information, would you classify this mutation as a harmful, beneficial, or neutral mutation? Would this make the fox more or less likely to survive? Explain your answer. (In kids words)

Question

A species of fox lives in the arctic where the ground is covered in white snow most of the year.  These arctic foxes hunt rodents and other small mammals, while their predators include eagles, wolves, and polar bears.  A mutation in its DNA causes a fox to have white fur rather than brown.  Given this information, would you classify this mutation as a harmful, beneficial, or neutral mutation?  Would this make the fox more or less likely to survive?  Explain your answer. (In kids words)

GPT 3.5 · Answer

This mutation where the fox has white fur instead of brown is actually a beneficial mutation. This is because in the arctic where the fox lives, the ground is covered in white snow most of the year. Having white fur helps the fox blend in with its surroundings, making it harder for predators like eagles, wolves, and polar bears to spot them. This means that the fox with white fur is more likely to survive because it can better hide from its predators while hunting for food. So, this mutation is a good thing for the arctic fox because it helps them stay safe and live longer!