A species of fox lives in the arctic where the ground is covered in white snow most of the year. These arctic foxes hunt rodents and other small mammals, while their predators include eagles, wolves, and polar bears. A mutation in its DNA causes a fox to have white fur rather than brown. Given this information, would you classify this mutation as a harmful, beneficial, or neutral mutation? Would this make the fox more or less likely to survive? Explain your answer.
This mutation would be classified as a beneficial mutation, as it would make the fox more likely to survive in its environment. The white fur would help the fox blend in with its snowy surroundings, making it harder for predators to spot it. This would give the fox an advantage in avoiding predators and increase its chances of survival.
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The mutation that causes the arctic fox to have white fur instead of brown can be classified as a beneficial mutation. This is because in an environment where the ground is covered in white snow most of the year, having white fur provides camouflage for the fox, making it harder for predators like eagles, wolves, and polar bears to spot them while hunting.
As a result of this mutation, the fox is more likely to survive because it is better adapted to its environment. The white fur allows the fox to blend in with the snowy surroundings, increasing its chances of avoiding detection by predators and successfully hunting its prey.
Therefore, the white fur mutation is beneficial for the survival of the arctic fox in its snowy habitat.
To determine whether the mutation of white fur in arctic foxes is harmful, beneficial, or neutral, we need to evaluate its impact on the survival of the foxes.
In the arctic environment where the ground is covered in white snow most of the year, white fur can provide an advantage to the foxes. It helps them blend in with their surroundings, making it harder for their predators, such as eagles, wolves, and polar bears, to spot them. This camouflage allows the foxes to approach their prey more stealthily and increases their chances of hunting successfully.
From an evolutionary perspective, a trait that enhances an organism's ability to survive and reproduce is considered beneficial. In this case, the white fur mutation improves the foxes' chances of survival by increasing their ability to avoid predators and obtain food, thus increasing their reproductive success.
Therefore, we can classify the white fur mutation in arctic foxes as a beneficial mutation. It gives the foxes a survival advantage in their environment, making them more likely to survive and reproduce compared to foxes with brown fur.