Question

Scientists investigated populations over fruit fly species that live on the Chinese mainland andon several small islands off the coast of China. The scientists identified that the geneticvariation within each islands fruit fly populations was high even though the islands were smalland surrounded by water. Which statement best explains the role of gene flow in thecharacteristics of the islands fruit flies?A. Different types of inherited mutations occurred in the fruit flies on each island.B. fruit flies from each island and from the Chinese mainland interacted and made it witheach other.C. a new species of fruit fly arrived on each island and caused changes that allowed theresident species to survive.D. fruit flies traveled to the Chinese mainland and the increased competition for resourceson each island resulted in the evolution of new species.

Answer 1

The correct option is A. Different types of inherited mutations occurred in the fruit flies on each island. Assuming these fruit flies did not have any interaction with flies from other islands, then their mutations were not shared among islands, making each fruit fly island population unique.