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Ch. 23 - Evolutionary Processes
Freeman - Biological Science 7th Edition
Freeman7th EditionBiological ScienceISBN: 9783584863285Not the one you use?Change textbook
All textbooksFreeman 7th EditionCh. 23 - Evolutionary ProcessesProblem 7
Chapter 23, Problem 7

Determine what is incorrect in the following statement: Red deer mutated their genes so that they could have larger antlers to compete for mates.

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1
Identify the misconception about genetic mutations: Understand that mutations are random changes in the DNA sequence, which are not directed or intentional responses to environmental pressures.
Clarify the role of natural selection: Explain that while mutations are random, natural selection can favor certain traits, such as larger antlers in red deer, if they provide a reproductive advantage in a given environment.
Discuss the concept of adaptation: Highlight that over time, traits that enhance survival and reproductive success may become more common in the population due to natural selection acting on the variation produced by mutations.
Explain the incorrect use of 'mutated their genes': Emphasize that the phrase suggests an intentional change by the deer, which is a misunderstanding of how evolutionary processes work.
Correct the statement: Suggest a more accurate way to express the idea, such as 'Red deer may have developed larger antlers over generations through the process of mutation and natural selection, which provided a reproductive advantage in competing for mates.'

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Mutation and Natural Selection

Mutation refers to changes in the DNA sequence of an organism's genome. While mutations can lead to new traits, they occur randomly and are not directed by the organism's needs. Natural selection then acts on these mutations, favoring traits that enhance survival and reproduction, such as larger antlers in red deer, but the process is not a conscious effort by the animals.
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Natural Selection

Phenotypic Variation

Phenotypic variation is the observable differences in traits among individuals of a species, which can arise from genetic differences and environmental influences. In red deer, variations in antler size can result from genetic factors, but they are not a direct result of intentional genetic changes made by the deer themselves.
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Genotype & Phenotype

Evolutionary Adaptation

Evolutionary adaptation is the process through which species undergo changes over generations to better fit their environment. This occurs through mechanisms like natural selection, where advantageous traits become more common in a population. The statement incorrectly implies that red deer actively mutated their genes, rather than suggesting that larger antlers evolved over time as a result of selective pressures.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

True or false? Gene flow can either increase or decrease the average fitness of a population. Explain.

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Textbook Question

In a population of 2500, how many babies would you expect to have cystic fibrosis, a homozygous recessive condition, if the frequency of the dominant allele is 0.9 and the population is at Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium?

a. 0.9 × 2500 = 2250

b. 2 × 0.9 × 0.1 × 2500 = 450

c. 0.9 × 0.1 × 2500 = 225

d. 0.1 x 0.1 x 2500 = 25

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Textbook Question

In the 1700s and 1800s, royalty in Europe often married their close relatives; furthermore, recessive genetic diseases such as hemophilia showed up much more often among royals than in the general population. Explain the likely connection.

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Textbook Question

Determine what is incorrect in the following statement: Deer mice living on beaches mutated their genes so that they could have white fur color, providing better camouflage to survive on beaches.

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Textbook Question

Draw a small concept map showing how selection, genetic drift, gene flow, and mutation relate to genetic variation.

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Textbook Question
In humans, albinism is caused by loss-of-function mutations in genes involved in the synthesis of melanin, the dark pigment in skin. Only people homozygous for a loss-of-function allele (genotype aa) have the albino phenotype. In Americans of northern European ancestry, albino individuals are present at a frequency of about 1 in 10,000 (or 0.0001). Assuming that genotypes are in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium, what is the predicted frequency of Caucasians in the United States who carry a single allele for albinism?
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