4. You are managing two isolated populations of pine marten (a native mammal) in Maine. Each population has a neutral recessive mutation that codes for fluffier tails. Both start with the allele frequency at 50%. Over a 10-year period, the allele frequency in Population 1 increases from 50% to 65%. Over the same period what do you predict will happen in Population 2

Option D, we cannot predict what will happen

Explanation:

Complete Question

You are managing two isolated populations of pine marten (a native mammal) in Maine. Each population has a neutral recessive mutation that codes for fluffier tails. Both start with the allele frequency at 50%. Over a 10 year period, the allele frequency in population 1 increases from 50% to 65%. Over the same period what do you predict will happen in Population 2?

A. the frequency of fluffier tails will increase

B. the frequency of fluffier tails will decrease

C. the frequency of fluffier tails will stay the same

D. we cannot predict what will happen

Solutions -

In the study conducted by Darwin on the pea plants, it was observed that the number of pea plant with recessive traits increased after certain generation of growth.

Here in Population 1, the allele frequency of allele causing neutral recessive mutation has increased from 50% to 65%.

In case of population 2, we are not aware of the current allele frequency of the allele causing neutral recessive mutation. Also we are not aware of the mating pattern, environmental conditions, and any other genetic condition with in the given set of individuals in population 2

Hence, nothing can be said about the population 2

Option D is correct