Genetic Adaptations in Rock Pocket Mice

What characteristic allows the rock pocket mouse to blend in perfectly with the desert sands?

• Its dark-colored fur.

• Its light-colored fur.

• Its ability to change color rapidly.

• Its small size.

What is the primary reason light-colored rock pocket mice are at a disadvantage on dark lava flows?

• They cannot find enough food on the dark rock.

• Their light fur makes them stand out to visual predators.

• The dark rock is too hot for them to survive.

• They are unable to burrow into the hard lava.

What drives the change in fur color in rock pocket mouse populations over evolutionary time?

• The mice consciously choose to change their fur color.

• The availability of different colored food sources.

• Predators selectively removing mice that do not match their background.

• Changes in temperature causing fur to lighten or darken.

What is the primary genetic factor identified as responsible for the dark fur coloration in rock pocket mice?

• A change in the number of chromosomes.

• A difference in four chemical letters within the Mc1r gene.

• The presence of an entirely new gene.

• An increase in the overall size of the mouse's genome.

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How long does it take for a dark fur mutation to become prevalent in a mouse population if it provides a 1% competitive advantage?

• Approximately 100 years

• Approximately 300 years

• Approximately 500 years

• Approximately 1000 years

What aspect of evolution is considered random?

• Natural selection

• The spread of advantageous traits

• Genetic mutations

• Adaptation to environmental changes

What is the primary driving force behind the process of evolution?

• Random genetic drift

• Natural selection

• Geographic isolation

• Predation pressure alone

What did scientists discover about the genetic basis of dark fur in rock pocket mice from different lava flows?

• All dark mice had the exact same genetic mutation.

• The genetic changes leading to dark fur were different in mice from different lava flows.

• Dark fur was always caused by a single, dominant gene.

• The dark fur trait was not heritable.