Question

During the warm temperatures of summer, the arctic fox produces enzymes that cause its fur to become reddish-brown. During the cold temperatures of winter, these enzymes do not function. As a result, the fox has a white coat that blends into the snowy background. What explains this change in color?

Question 22 options:

The genes of a fox are made of unstable DNA.

Mutations can be caused by temperature extremes.

Random alteration of DNA can occur on certain chromosomes.

The expression of certain genes is affected by temperature.

Answer 1

The change in color of the arctic fox's fur from reddish-brown in summer to white in winter is caused by the expression of certain genes being affected by temperature. Temperature-sensitive proteins are at work in arctic foxes and rabbits, resulting in the change in color. This mutation causing coloration was advantageous to these species, allowing them to blend into their environments and persist in the populations.

Step-by-step explanation:

The change in color of the arctic fox's fur from reddish-brown in summer to white in winter is caused by the expression of certain genes being affected by temperature. The fox produces enzymes during warm temperatures that cause the fur to become reddish-brown, but these enzymes do not function during cold temperatures. As a result, the fox has a white coat that blends into the snowy background of winter.

Temperature-sensitive proteins are also at work in arctic foxes and rabbits, which are white in winter and darker colored in summer. The protein product of the gene does not fold correctly at colder temperatures, resulting in the change in color. This mutation causing coloration was advantageous to these species, allowing them to blend into their environments and persist in the populations.

Answer 2

The correct option is D) The expression of certain genes is affected by temperature.

Step-by-step explanation:

There are various factors which control the regulation of a gene. Temperature can be a regulatory factor for certain genes.

Probably, during the warm temperatures, the proteins regulating the fur colour to become reddish brown become activate these genes. As a result, the fur becomes evident.

In the winter, the enzymes controlling the fur might become degraded. A s a result, the genes are not able to express themselves. Hence, a white coat occurs.