Question

18. In a species of wild animal, claw size is determined by a combination of two alleles. Allele Q codes for large claws, while allele q codes for small claws. Individuals with a heterozygous genotype possess claws of medium size. Members of the species depend on their claws to be able to burrow in the ground and find food. But in an area where the ground has always been soft, gradual climate change has caused the dirt to become hard and compact. Which statement best predicts the change that will occur in the affected populations?
A. Allele q will decrease in frequency.

B. Allele q will become dominant to allele Q.

C. Allele Q will become dominant to allele q.

D. Allele Q will decrease in frequency.

Answer 1

A IT WILL DECREASE OR BECOME HABITUATED TO WERE IT LIVES

Answer 2

Answer: The correct answer is- A) Allele q will decrease in frequency.

According to the information in the question, allele Q codes for large claws and allele q codes for small claws in a species of wild animal.

This indicates that larger claws will enable the wild animals to burrow more in the ground and find their food. As the change in the climatic conditions caused the dirt on the ground to become hard and compact.

This will result in change in the frequency of allele of the population as allele Q will increase because larger claws will provide more advantage (in context of burrowing) to the animals for getting their food, whereas frequency of q allele will decrease ( as smaller size of claws will not be that beneficial to them in hard and compact ground).

Thus, option A) is the right answer.