Natural Selection and the Rock Pocket Mouse

What caused the patches of black rock in the Valley of Fire?

• Erosion

• Volcanic eruptions

• Human activities

• Earthquakes

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Why do light-colored pocket mice stand out on dark lava rocks?

• Their fur turns white on lava rocks

• They are more active on dark rocks

• Their light-colored fur contrasts with the dark background

• They grow larger on dark rocks

What is the primary cause of the black color introduction in the light colored pocket mice populations?

• Changes in diet

• Predators eating lighter-colored mice

• Migration to different areas

• Genetic mutations

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS3-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

The gene MC2R is responsible for the dark coloration in the pocket mice.

• True

• False

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS3-1

How does a small competitive advantage impact the spread of a mutation in a population over time?

• It can lead to a rapid spread of the mutation

• It has no significant impact

• It quickly disappears

• It causes the mutation to remain stable

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

What misconception about evolution is countered by the example of the rock pocket mice?

• Evolution is a slow process

• Evolution occurs in large animals only

• Evolution is driven by mutations alone

• Evolution is a random process

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

What surprising discovery did Michael Nachman make about the genetic changes in black mice from different lava flows?

• They had the same genetic changes

• They had completely different genetic changes

• They had no genetic changes

• They had changes in their diet

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS3-1

What do the rock pocket mice demonstrate about the nature of evolutionary change?

• Evolutionary change is a one-time event

• Evolutionary change is constant and ongoing

• Evolutionary change only happens in certain environments

• Evolutionary change is always predictable

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-4