9. Use each of the following species concepts to write a claim about whether the dark and light fur mice are, in fact, different species. Your claim should demonstrate your understanding of that particular species concept. Species concept Morphological Biological Ecological Claim Mice with light coat colors are found in populations scattered across the southeastern US. Researchers believe the light coat color emerged in a single population. 10. How would a biologist explain the evolution of the light coat color in populations across the southeastern US? Briefly explain your reasoning.

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Chapter26: Human Evolution
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Problem 1DAA: Neanderthal Hair Color The MC1R gene regulates pigmentation in humans (Sections 14.1 and 15.1...
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  1. Use each of the following species concepts to write a claim about whether the dark and light fur mice are, in fact, different species. Your claim should demonstrate your understanding of that particular species concept.

    Mice with light coat colors are found in populations scattered across the southeastern US. Researchers believe the light coat color emerged in a single population.

     

    1. How would a biologist explain the evolution of the light coat color in populations across the southeastern US? Briefly explain your reasoning.

     

Standard 6a
9. Use each of the following species concepts to write a claim about whether the dark and light
fur mice are, in fact, different species. Your claim should demonstrate your understanding of
that particular species concept.
Species concept Claim
Morphological
Biological
Ecological
Mice with light coat colors are found in populations scattered across the southeastern US.
Researchers believe the light coat color emerged in a single population.
10. How would a biologist explain the evolution of the light coat color in populations across the
southeastern US? Briefly explain your reasoning.
Transcribed Image Text:Standard 6a 9. Use each of the following species concepts to write a claim about whether the dark and light fur mice are, in fact, different species. Your claim should demonstrate your understanding of that particular species concept. Species concept Claim Morphological Biological Ecological Mice with light coat colors are found in populations scattered across the southeastern US. Researchers believe the light coat color emerged in a single population. 10. How would a biologist explain the evolution of the light coat color in populations across the southeastern US? Briefly explain your reasoning.
The beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus) is a small rodent found in the southeastern United
States. Coat color in the beach mouse is variable, from dark brown to blonde (Figure 1). A
pigment called eumelanin is responsible for some of the diversity in mouse coat color. The
MC1R gene, located on chromosome 8, plays a major role in the synthesis of eumelanin. There
are two alleles of MC1R:
- R allele. Results in a functional MC1R protein that leads to stimulation of pigment
production. This allele is found in dark colored mice.
C allele. Results in a non-functional MC1R protein. Pigment production is, as a result, not
stimulated. This allele is found in light colored mice.
Figure 1. Beach mouse with light fur (left) and dark (right).
These mice are hunted by visual predators like owls and fox. The distribution of coat color is not
random. Beach mice with dark fur are found further inland, on dark brown soils while mice with
light fur are found on beaches, where the sand is light brown. Dark fur mice also have to
Biol 151 | Su 2022
Page 5 of 9
Problem Set 3
compete with another mouse species (Peromyscus maniculatus) that inhabits a similar
ecological niche.
Transcribed Image Text:The beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus) is a small rodent found in the southeastern United States. Coat color in the beach mouse is variable, from dark brown to blonde (Figure 1). A pigment called eumelanin is responsible for some of the diversity in mouse coat color. The MC1R gene, located on chromosome 8, plays a major role in the synthesis of eumelanin. There are two alleles of MC1R: - R allele. Results in a functional MC1R protein that leads to stimulation of pigment production. This allele is found in dark colored mice. C allele. Results in a non-functional MC1R protein. Pigment production is, as a result, not stimulated. This allele is found in light colored mice. Figure 1. Beach mouse with light fur (left) and dark (right). These mice are hunted by visual predators like owls and fox. The distribution of coat color is not random. Beach mice with dark fur are found further inland, on dark brown soils while mice with light fur are found on beaches, where the sand is light brown. Dark fur mice also have to Biol 151 | Su 2022 Page 5 of 9 Problem Set 3 compete with another mouse species (Peromyscus maniculatus) that inhabits a similar ecological niche.
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