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 HOW A 6th GRADER WOULD

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The mutation that causes the fox to have white fur instead of brown can be classified as a beneficial mutation. Here's why:

  1. Blending in with the Environment: In the arctic, the ground is usually covered in white snow. A fox with white fur can blend in with the snowy background. This makes it harder for predators, like eagles and wolves, to spot it. It’s like wearing a camouflage outfit that helps the fox hide!

  2. Better Hunting: Because the white fox can hide better, it also has a better chance of sneaking up on its prey, like rodents. This means it can hunt more successfully and find more food.

  3. Survival Chances: By blending in with its environment, the white-furred fox has a higher chance of surviving. If it can escape predators and find food more easily, it's more likely to live longer and have babies that also have white fur.

So, in conclusion, the white fur mutation helps the arctic fox survive better in its snowy home, making it a beneficial mutation!

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The mutation that makes the arctic fox have white fur instead of brown is a good mutation!

  1. Hiding Better: The white fur helps the fox blend in with the snow, so it can hide from predators like eagles and wolves.

  2. Better at Hunting: Because it can hide well, the fox can sneak up on its food, like little rodents, more easily.

  3. Staying Alive: With better hiding and hunting skills, the white fox is more likely to survive and have baby foxes.

So, having white fur helps the fox live better in the snowy arctic, making it a good thing!

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The white fur on the arctic fox is a good mutation!

  1. Hides Better: It blends in with the snow, so predators can’t see it.

  2. Hunts Better: It can sneak up on its food more easily.

  3. Stays Alive: This helps the fox survive and have babies.

So, white fur is a good thing for the fox!

Rabbits are very popular domesticated animals, so popular that there are over 300 breeds of domesticated rabbits in the world. You attend a rabbit show and notice that all of the breeds vary in many characteristics, such as size, color, and fur length. You notice that there is weight information on the cages of all rabbit individuals at the show and decide to jot down data for two specific rabbit breeds (in pounds):

Breed A: 10, 8, 7, 10, 9, 9, 10, 9

Breed B: 10, 12, 14, 13, 10, 15, 11, 12

In three to five sentences, 1) calculate the average weights of the two rabbit breed groups, 2) describe some factors that could contribute to the different weights seen within breeds, and 3) describe how you would track and find the growth rate of the two rabbit breeds during an investigation.

To find the average weight of the rabbits, we add up the weights for each breed and divide by the number of rabbits.

Breed A: (10 + 8 + 7 + 10 + 9 + 9 + 10 + 9) / 8 = 9.0 pounds
Breed B: (10 + 12 + 14 + 13 + 10 + 15 + 11 + 12) / 8 = 12.5 pounds

Factors that could contribute to the different weights in the breeds include genetics, diet, and health. For example, some breeds may be larger due to their genetic makeup, while others might be smaller or heavier depending on what they eat and their overall health.

To track the growth rate of the two rabbit breeds, I would measure and record their weights regularly (like every month) throughout their growth period. This way, I can see how much weight each breed gains over time and compare their growth rates.

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To find the average weight:

Breed A: (10 + 8 + 7 + 10 + 9 + 9 + 10 + 9) / 8 = 9.0 pounds
Breed B: (10 + 12 + 14 + 13 + 10 + 15 + 11 + 12) / 8 = 12.5 pounds

The different weights can be caused by things like genetics, what they eat, and their health.

To track their growth, I would weigh the rabbits each month to see how much weight they gain over time.

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To find the average weight:

Breed A: (10 + 8 + 7 + 10 + 9 + 9 + 10 + 9) = 72 → 72 ÷ 8 = 9.0 pounds
Breed B: (10 + 12 + 14 + 13 + 10 + 15 + 11 + 12) = 97 → 97 ÷ 8 = 12.5 pounds

Breed A rabbits are lighter, while Breed B rabbits are heavier. This could be because of their genes, what they eat, or their health.

To see how they grow, I would weigh the rabbits every month and see how much bigger they get!