During a severe windstorm on an isolated island, some pollen and seeds from conifers are carried high into the air in a cloud of dust. In which of these situations would the dust cloud containing the seeds and pollen be considered an agent for gene flow?

Question

During a severe windstorm on an isolated island, some pollen and seeds from conifers are carried high into the air in a cloud of dust. In which of these situations would the dust cloud containing the seeds and pollen be considered an agent for gene flow?

A. The dust cloud is subjected to an extended period of ultraviolet radiation, causing a mutation in a gene of the conifer seed.
B. The dust cloud settles, and a few of the conifer seeds return to the same environment.
C. The dust cloud is subjected to electromagnetic radiation from the sun, causing the pollen to be unable to pollinate flowers.

Answer 1

The situation in which the dust cloud containing the seeds and pollen would be considered an agent for gene flow is option B. The dust cloud settles, and a few of the conifer seeds return to the same environment. Gene flow refers to the transfer of genes from one population to another or within the same population. In this situation, the conifer seeds returning to the same environment can potentially introduce new genetic variation into the population, leading to gene flow.