Rough-skinned newts produce a strong toxin called TTX as a defense mechanism against predators. Garter snakes can tolerate a very limited amount of the toxin. However, several populations of garter snakes have recently shown an increased tolerance for TTX. The different populations of snakes have independence acquired a gene variation that allows them to better block the effects of the toxin.
The average number of genes in the garter snake populations
The number of times a garter snake replicates the variant gene
The frequency of the variant gene in the garter snake populations
The average number of times gene mutate to create a tolerance for the toxin.
The frequency of the variant gene in the garter snake populations is the most relevant answer. This is because it indicates how common the gene variation is within the populations and gives an idea of how widespread the increased tolerance for TTX is among the snakes. The average number of genes in the garter snake populations and the number of times a garter snake replicates the variant gene are not as important in understanding the increase in tolerance. The average number of times gene mutate to create a tolerance for the toxin is not specified in the given information and therefore cannot be determined.
