Home
/
Biology
/
ase your answers to questions 9 through 11 on the information below and on your knowledg ology. Pocket Mice Pocket mice are small rodents that feed mainly at night and are preyed upon by owls, ha and snakes. Scientists studied pocket mice living on dark volcanic rock in both New Mexic fifty miles away in Arizona. They recorded their data in the chart below. multicolumn(6)(|c|)( Number of Mice on Dark Volcanic Rock ) multirow(2)(}{ Year ) & multicolumn(2)(|c|)( New Mexico ) & multicolumn(2)(c|)( Arizona ) cline ( 2 - 5 ) & Light Fur & Dark Fur & Light Fur & Dark Fur 2000 & 120 & 122 & 16 & 125 2001 & 140 & 136 & 8 & 140 2002 & 134 & 130 & 6 & 135 2003 & 115 & 120 & 12 & 115 2004 & 122 & 126 & 8 & 129 Explain what is meant by the statement: "While mutations are random, natural selection is not."

Question

ase your answers to questions 9 through 11 on the information below and on your knowledg ology.
Pocket Mice
Pocket mice are small rodents that feed mainly at night and are preyed upon by owls, ha and snakes. Scientists studied pocket mice living on dark volcanic rock in both New Mexic fifty miles away in Arizona. They recorded their data in the chart below.

 multicolumn(6)(|c|)( Number of Mice on Dark Volcanic Rock ) 
 multirow(2)(}{ Year ) & multicolumn(2)(|c|)( New Mexico ) & multicolumn(2)(c|)( Arizona ) 
cline ( 2 - 5 ) & Light Fur & Dark Fur & Light Fur & Dark Fur 
 2000 & 120 & 122 & 16 & 125 
 2001 & 140 & 136 & 8 & 140 
 2002 & 134 & 130 & 6 & 135 
 2003 & 115 & 120 & 12 & 115 
 2004 & 122 & 126 & 8 & 129 


Explain what is meant by the statement: "While mutations are random, natural selection is not."

ase your answers to questions 9 through 11 on the information below and on your knowledg ology. Pocket Mice Pocket mice are small rodents that feed mainly at night and are preyed upon by owls, ha and snakes. Scientists studied pocket mice living on dark volcanic rock in both New Mexic fifty miles away in Arizona. They recorded their data in the chart below. multicolumn(6)(|c|)( Number of Mice on Dark Volcanic Rock ) multirow(2)(}{ Year ) & multicolumn(2)(|c|)( New Mexico ) & multicolumn(2)(c|)( Arizona ) cline ( 2 - 5 ) & Light Fur & Dark Fur & Light Fur & Dark Fur 2000 & 120 & 122 & 16 & 125 2001 & 140 & 136 & 8 & 140 2002 & 134 & 130 & 6 & 135 2003 & 115 & 120 & 12 & 115 2004 & 122 & 126 & 8 & 129 Explain what is meant by the statement: "While mutations are random, natural selection is not."

expert verifiedVerification of experts

Answer

3.8234 Voting
avatar
CecilMaster · Tutor for 5 years

Answer

#Explanation#<br /><br />The statement "While mutations are random, natural selection is not" refers to two key concepts in evolutionary biology: mutation and natural selection. <br /><br />Mutation refers to changes in an organism's genetic material. It's a random process because it can occur at any time and in any gene. It can be caused by various factors such as errors during DNA replication, exposure to radiation or chemicals, etc. Mutations can result in new traits in organisms, which may be beneficial, neutral, or harmful.<br /><br />On the other hand, natural selection is a non-random process that determines which traits become more common in a population over time. It operates based on the principle of "survival of the fittest". Organisms with traits that give them an advantage in their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on these advantageous traits to their offspring. Over time, these beneficial traits become more common in the population, leading to evolutionary change.<br /><br />In the context of the pocket mice example, if a mutation occurred that resulted in some mice having dark fur (which could provide camouflage on the dark volcanic rock), this would be a random event. However, if the dark-furred mice were less likely to be preyed upon and therefore had a higher survival rate, they would be more likely to reproduce and pass on their dark fur trait. Over time, the proportion of dark-furred mice in the population would increase. This is natural selection, and it is not random because it favors traits that provide an advantage in a specific environment.<br /><br />#Answer#<br /><br />The statement "While mutations are random, natural selection is not" means that while genetic changes (mutations) occur randomly without any consideration for their usefulness, the process of natural selection, which determines which traits become more common in a population over time, is not random and is driven by the survival and reproductive advantage that certain traits provide in a specific environment.
Click to rate:

Hot Questions

More x