Both species of garter snakes prey on the California newt, Taricha torosa, a small amphibian that produces a potent neurotoxin (TTX) in its skin. However, neither species of garter snake is affected by TTX. The resistance to TTX is associated with mutations in the SCN4A gene. Which of the following best supports a claim that TTX resistance arose independently in T. atratus and T. sirtalis?
Added by Vicente L.
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Step 1: Mutations are sudden, stable, and inheritable changes in the genetic material of an organism. Show more…
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The rough-skinned newt, which lives in western North America, stores a poison in its skin and is avoided by predators. However, several populations of garter snakes have undergone one or a few mutations that enable them to tolerate the toxin, and these snakes eat the newts with no ill effects. How has natural selection affected this predator-prey relationship? Based on what you have learned about evolutionary arms races, predict what may happen to the newts and the poison-resistant garter snakes over time.
The rough-skinned newt produces one of the most potent toxins on the planet. Scientists in Oregon have found that as newts evolve to produce a more deadly toxin, their primary predator, the garter snake, evolves ways to resist the toxin. This is an example of coevolution of predator and prey. ecological trade-offs in the evolution of the newt. an adaptation of the newt to living in aquatic environments. reproductive isolation in a population of garter snakes.
Nicholas M.
predators. Upon closer inspection, the snakes were determined to belong to different genera and species. How would these biologists describe the mimicry in this case? a. Batesian mimicry, because it involves nontoxic species that resembles a toxic species. b. Emsleyan/Mertensian mimicry because an extremely toxic species resembles a less toxic species. c. Batesian mimicry because it involves an extremely toxic species that resembles a less toxic species. d. Mullerian mimicry because it involves different species that both produce toxins and display similar warning coloration.
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