Final answer:
To determine which population the lost red fox belongs to, one must compare the gel electrophoresis banding pattern of the lost fox, found on the second lane, with the patterns of known populations. The corresponding population with a matching pattern would be identified as the source of the lost fox.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the scenario provided, we are using DNA fingerprinting to determine the source population of a lost red fox through comparison of its gel electrophoresis banding patterns with those of three known red fox populations at Crater Lake, Mt. Hood, and Mt. Bachelor. As DNA fragments carry a negative charge, they move towards the positive side during electrophoresis, with smaller fragments moving faster and appearing further down the gel, creating a unique pattern for each population.
The gel electrophoresis results for the lost fox are found on the second lane. We would examine this lane and compare its banding pattern to the patterns shown by the known populations. This comparison would allow us to determine the population to which the lost fox most likely belongs by finding the pattern that matches best.
Without the actual image of the gel electrophoresis, I cannot determine which population the lost red fox is from. However, since DNA fingerprinting typically looks for matching banding patterns, the lost fox likely belongs to the population whose pattern corresponds to the band in the second lane of the electrophoresis gel.