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.

Question

(4 point

Answer 1

Based on the information provided, the mutation causing a fox to have white fur instead of brown would be classified as a beneficial mutation. In the arctic environment where the ground is covered in white snow most of the year, having white fur would help the fox blend in with its surroundings, making it less visible to predators such as eagles, wolves, and polar bears. This increased camouflage would likely increase the fox's chances of survival by making it more difficult for predators to spot and catch it. Therefore, the mutation providing white fur would be advantageous for the arctic fox population in terms of survival in their environment.

Answer 2