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.

Question

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.

Which of these is most likely to increase in garter snakes?

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.

Answer 1

The frequency of the variant gene in the garter snake populations is the most likely to increase in garter snakes. This is because the gene variation that allows the snakes to better block the effects of the toxin would gradually become more common within the populations over time.