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4. valentina is using a computer model to see how mutations affect an o…

Question

  1. valentina is using a computer model to see how mutations affect an organism’s ability to survive in its environment. the model simulates how snake survival is affected by a mutation that causes a change in the colors or pattern of the snakes’ skin. each round begins with 100 snakes and at the end of the round, the number of snakes that survive a predator is counted. the computer randomly selects between four different options: the snakes have no mutation, some snakes get a beneficial mutation, some snakes get a harmful mutation, or some snakes get a neutral mutation. valentina does the simulation 2 times. the first time she gets option 2, where some of the snakes have the beneficial mutation. the second time, she gets option 1, where none of the snakes get a mutation. her results are in the table below. which prediction should she make about the number of snakes that would be left if she got one of the other options? | | outcome of the mutation | result | |---|---|---| | option 1 (no mutation) | | 75 snakes left | | option 2 (beneficial mutation) | skin colors are now identical to the environment | 95 snakes left | | option 3 (harmful mutation) | skin color is white | | | option 4 (neutral mutation) | skin pattern changes, but colors do not | | a. the result of option 4 will be less than in option 1. b. the result of option 4 will be about the same as option 1. c. the result of option 3 will be about the same as in option 4. d. the result of option 3 will be more than in option 2.

Explanation:

Brief Explanations
  • Beneficial mutations boost survival (95 > 75 vs no mutation).
  • Harmful mutations lower survival (white skin makes snakes visible to predators, so fewer than 75 will survive).
  • Neutral mutations don't affect survival, so the number of surviving snakes will match the no-mutation (Option 1) result.
  • Evaluate options:
  • A: Incorrect, neutral mutation won't reduce survival below no mutation.
  • B: Correct, neutral mutation has no impact on survival.
  • C: Incorrect, harmful mutation will have far lower survival than neutral.
  • D: Incorrect, Option 2 already has the highest survival count.

Answer:

B. The result of option 4 will be about the same as option 1.