Light coat color is hypothesized to be an adaptive trait in beach mice living on white sand beaches, since it provides camouflage. If there was no genetic basis for coat color (the trait is not heritable), how would coat color change in this population?
If there is no genetic basis for coat color and the trait is not heritable, coat color in the population of beach mice would not change over time
If there is no genetic basis for coat color and the trait is not heritable, coat color in the population of beach mice would not change over time. In the absence of a genetic basis, coat color would be determined solely by environmental factors or random variations.
For example, in this scenario, if a beach mouse with a light coat color is born, it would not be able to pass on this trait to its offspring, as coat color is determined solely by the environment and not inherited through genes. Similarly, if a beach mouse with a dark coat color is born, it would not be able to pass on this trait either.
Without any genetic basis for coat color, any changes in coat color that occur in the population would be due to random variations or temporary environmental factors. For example, if there is a temporary increase in dark-colored sand on the white sand beaches, mice with a dark coat color might have a slight advantage in camouflage. However, this advantage would not be heritable, and the population’s coat color would not change in response to this advantage over generations.
In conclusion, without a genetic basis for coat color and heritability, coat color in the population of beach mice would remain unchanged, as any variations or changes would not be passed down to future generations.
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