In northern Canada, a population of rabbits was predominantly white in color. The allele for white color is recessive, while the allele for gray color is dominant. Over the last several decades, the average annual temperature of this area has increased, and the long-term deposits of ice and snow have become scarce. A graph shows that in 1850, the white rabbit population was far higher than the gray rabbit population. In 2000, the gray rabbit population was far higher than the white rabbit population

Question

In northern Canada, a population of rabbits was predominantly white in color. The allele for white color is recessive, while the allele for gray color is dominant. Over the last several decades, the average annual temperature of this area has increased, and the long-term deposits of ice and snow have become scarce. A graph shows that in 1850, the white rabbit population was far higher than the gray rabbit population. In 2000, the gray rabbit population was far higher than the white rabbit population

How can we explain this change in terms of allelic frequency?

A Gray alleles are dominant over white.
B Changes in the environment caused genetic mutations that were passed to offspring.
C In order to survive, rabbits changed from white to gray and they passed the gray allele to offspring.
D Gray rabbits were more likely to survive in the changed habitat. The gray alleles were passed to offspring.
E The allele for gray color became the recessive allele in the gene pool.

Answer 1

D Gray rabbits were more likely to survive in the changed habitat. The gray alleles were passed to offspring.

The increase in temperature and scarcity of ice and snow likely made it harder for white rabbits to blend in with their environment and avoid predators. Gray rabbits, on the other hand, may have had an advantage in this new environment, making them more likely to survive and reproduce. Over time, this would lead to an increase in the frequency of the gray allele in the population.