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Multiple Choice
Hydrangea plants of the same genotype are planted in a large flower garden. Some of the plants produce blue flowers and others pink flowers. This can be best explained by which of the following?
A
The knowledge that multiple alleles are involved.
B
The allele for blue hydrangea is completely dominant over the allele for pink hydrangea.
C
The alleles are codominant.
D
Environmental factors such as soil pH affect the phenotype of flower color.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand that hydrangea flower color is influenced by environmental factors, specifically soil pH, rather than genetic differences.
Recognize that the same genotype can result in different phenotypes due to environmental conditions, a concept known as phenotypic plasticity.
Learn that in acidic soils (low pH), hydrangea flowers tend to be blue, while in alkaline soils (high pH), they tend to be pink.
Acknowledge that this phenomenon is not due to multiple alleles, dominance, or codominance, but rather the influence of soil chemistry on the availability of aluminum ions, which affects flower color.
Conclude that environmental factors, such as soil pH, play a crucial role in determining the phenotype of hydrangea flowers, despite having the same genetic makeup.