Researchers, Hoekstra & Nachman (2003) found different populations of rock pocket mice with dark phenotypes living on dark lava rock in Arizona and in New Mexico. The researchers sequenced the Mc1R gene for both populations, and found that the previously identified mutation from the Arizona population was absent in the New Mexico population. What might explain this observation?
Question 13 options:
Predators prefer light-colored rock pocket mice, so dark colored mice are more prevalent.
The mice change their fur color seasonally to blend in with the environment.
The volcanic rock caused coloration changes in each rock pocket mouse population, resulting in dark fur.
Different mutations spontaneously arose in the two different populations.