Final answer:
Effect of cohousing obese and lean mice together is d) Obese mice influencing lean mice to become obese
Step-by-step explanation:
When d)obese and lean mice are cohoused together, the phenomenon of social contagion often occurs, leading to the transmission of certain behaviors, including eating habits. In this context, the answer is d) Obese mice influencing lean mice to become obese. This is due to the potential sharing of dietary and lifestyle habits between the mice, with the obese mice influencing the lean mice towards adopting similar behaviors, ultimately leading to weight gain in the lean group.
The social and environmental factors in cohousing can significantly impact the weight dynamics of mice. Studies have shown that when obese and lean mice share the same living space, there is a higher likelihood of the lean mice adopting the eating habits of their obese counterparts.
This behavioral contagion can result in increased calorie intake and, subsequently, weight gain in the lean mice. The mechanisms behind this phenomenon may include shared access to food, mimicry of eating behaviors, and the influence of the social environment on individual dietary choices.
Understanding the social dynamics and behavioral influences in cohousing scenarios is crucial to predicting the outcomes of such experiments. The interactions between obese and lean mice go beyond simple coexistence, affecting their eating behaviors and, consequently, their weight. This underscores the importance of considering social and environmental factors in studies involving the health and behavior of animal subjects.