Question

There is a species of frog on an island that puzzles scientists. The proportion of frogs with no stripes is greater than the proportion of frogs with

stripes. This is puzzling because the unstriped trait is recessive (s), and the striped patterns are due to dominant alleles (S). Also, natural selection
seems to support the striped trait.
How do genetic factors most likely account for the proportion of traits in the frog population?
A. Most of striped frogs and unstriped frogs have the genotype ss.
OB. Most of striped frogs have the genotype SS and the unstriped frogs have the genotype ss.
C. Most of striped frogs have the genotype SS and the unstriped frogs have the genotype Ss.
OD. Most of striped frogs have the genotype Ss and the unstriped frogs have the genotype ss.
Hi

Answer 1

In a frog population where the unstriped trait is more common despite being recessive, the most likely explanation is that most of the striped frogs have the genotype Ss, while all unstriped frogs have the genotype ss.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question is asking how genetic factors could account for a higher proportion of a recessive phenotype in a population, even though the dominant trait seems to be supported by natural selection. Considering that each individual carries two alleles per gene and using the Hardy-Weinberg principle, where 'p' represents the dominant allele's frequency and 'q' represents the recessive allele's frequency, we can predict genotype frequencies within a population. Given that the recessive phenotype is more common, it suggests that the heterozygous condition (Ss) must also be common among striped frogs, and all unstriped frogs must be homozygous recessive (ss).

Option D is the likely explanation: Most of striped frogs have the genotype Ss and the unstriped frogs have the genotype ss. This condition would allow the recessive trait to be present in greater proportion assuming for example, genetic drift or non-random mating patterns may influence these outcomes in small populations like those on islands.