Question

During the reproduction of a species of butterflies, a mutation occurs that makes the offspring more visible to predators. Is this a positive or negative mutation? How do you predict this mutation will affect the long term survival of the species? Justify your response in two or more complete sentences.

Answer 1

This is an example of negative mutation. Negative mutations produce a phenotype that acts antagonistically to the wild-type phenotype. On the other hand positive mutation produce a phenotype that acts synergistically to the wild-type phenotype.

The negative mutation will negatively affect the long term survival of the butterfly species as the mutation makes the new butterfly offsprings more visible to predators.