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. in your own words
The mutation causing the fox to have white fur instead of brown can be classified as a beneficial mutation in the arctic environment where the ground is covered in white snow most of the year. The white fur helps the fox blend in with its snowy surroundings, making it less visible to its predators such as eagles, wolves, and polar bears. This camouflage increases the fox's chances of survival because it becomes less likely to be detected while hunting for prey and less likely to be detected by its predators. Therefore, this mutation is advantageous as it provides the fox with an adaptation that increases its overall survival rate in its habitat.
