Question

Anoles are a family of lizards found throughout the Americas. Green anoles, Anolis carolinensis, are native to a specific area of Florida. In this area, the primary territory of green anoles was once along the ground and in low-level branches. However, the introduction of brown anoles, Anolis sagrei, from Cuba forced green anoles to shift their territory to the tops of trees. The branches at the treetops are smoother and thinner than those close to the ground. Over time, the toe pads of the green anoles have become larger and stickier.

What is the best explanation for the change in green anoles' toe pads?

A.
Some individuals in the green anole population had mutations that helped them survive and reproduce in the new conditions, so their genes were passed on to the next generation.
B.
Gene flow between the green and brown anoles provided the green anoles with traits that helped them survive and reproduce, and those traits were passed on to the next generation.
C.
The feet of the green anoles became larger and stickier as they used them, which helped the green anoles to better survive, reproduce, and pass the trait on to the next generation.
D.
The change in conditions caused mutations in green anoles that gave them beneficial traits for survival and reproduction, and those mutations were passed on to the next generation.

Answer 1

The correct answer is (A)

Some individuals in a large population are mutated and the mutation was successful as it helped the population to to survive in a better way. The frequency of mutated population started reproducing and was passed on to the next generations. The frequency of mutated population increases with each generation. Some individuals in the green anole population had mutated and that helped them to survive and they successfully reproduced and the trait was passed on to the next generations.

Answer 2

The answer is; A

The mutation occurs in the population at low rates. However, if these mutations are advantageous, they are maintained in the population and passed on to next generations. This way, the frequency of the mutated alleles increase with each generation. This is how gene change occurs and natural selection.