[Campbell Biology P.51] The page highlights two unifying themes: "Genetic information encod... | Practice Question

The page highlights two unifying themes: "Genetic information encoded in DNA determines a mouse's fur colors" and "As a result of evolution through natural selection...the fur colors of these two populations of mice resemble their surroundings, providing protection from predators." Based on these statements, how do these two themes work together to explain the observed fur color differences in beach and inland mice?

  • A: Mice consciously alter their genetic information to produce fur colors that match their environment, illustrating information flow from environment to DNA.
  • B: Environmental factors directly mutate mouse DNA, causing immediate changes in fur color to improve camouflage, exemplifying rapid information transfer.
  • C: Random variations in genetic information (DNA) lead to different fur colors; natural selection then favors mice with fur colors that provide better camouflage in their specific habitats, increasing the frequency of advantageous genetic information over generations.
  • D: The interaction between predators and prey directly modifies the existing fur color genes within an individual mouse during its lifetime, which is then passed to offspring.

Explanation

This option correctly integrates both the concept of genetic variation information and the mechanism of natural selection evolution . Random genetic mutations create diverse fur colors. In different environments, certain fur colors provide better camouflage, making those mice more likely to survive and reproduce. Over generations, these advantageous genetic traits become more common in the population, leading to the observed differences between beach and inland mice.