Evolution in the Valley of Fire

What is the landscape like in New Mexico's valley of fire?

• Green forests

• Golden deserts

• Snowy mountains

• Rocky beaches

What caused the patches of black rock in the valley of fire?

• Tornadoes

• Earthquakes

• Forest fires

• Volcanic eruptions

What advantage does the light colored fur give to the rock pocket mouse in the desert?

• It helps them find food easily

• It helps them blend in with the black rocks

• It protects them from predators

• It makes them stand out on the black rocks

What is the main reason for the dark fur color of the rock pocket mouse on the black lava?

• Climate change

• Genetic mutation

• Natural selection

• Human interference

What is the difference between dark and light mice in the gene called mc1r?

• Difference of two chemical letters

• No difference at all

• Difference of ten chemical letters

• Difference of four chemical letters

How does natural selection contribute to the spread of the dark fur mutation in the rock pocket mice population?

• It favors the mice with light fur

• It prevents the spread of the mutation

• It has no effect on the mutation

• It favors the mice with dark fur

What did the study of rock pocket mice from different lava flows reveal about their genetic changes?

• The genetic changes were identical

• The genetic changes were completely different

• There were no genetic changes

• The genetic changes were random

What does the rock pocket mouse's evolution teach us about the process of natural selection?

• It has no effect on evolution

• It is a non-random process

• It is a random process

• It is driven by human interference