Butterflies of the genus Colias live in the Rocky Mountains, where they experience a wide range of temperatures. Different variants of a particular glycolytic enzyme in the flight muscles are optimally active at different temperatures. Within the same population, some individual butterflies fly most effectively at 29°C, while others fly most effectively at 40°C. Still others can be equally active at both temperatures. Which of the following claims is most consistent with the observed butterfly behavior?

Butterflies that express two variants of the enzyme are active over a greater range of temperature.

Butterflies that are active over a wide range of temperatures produce greater amounts of the enzyme.

Temperature has little effect on the activity of butterflies.

Butterflies that are active at warmer temperatures produce more offspring.

Question

Zaid Perry

Biology

16 January, 01:39

Butterflies of the genus Colias live in the Rocky Mountains, where they experience a wide range of temperatures. Different variants of a particular glycolytic enzyme in the flight muscles are optimally active at different temperatures. Within the same population, some individual butterflies fly most effectively at 29°C, while others fly most effectively at 40°C. Still others can be equally active at both temperatures. Which of the following claims is most consistent with the observed butterfly behavior?

Butterflies that express two variants of the enzyme are active over a greater range of temperature.

Butterflies that are active over a wide range of temperatures produce greater amounts of the enzyme.

Temperature has little effect on the activity of butterflies.

Butterflies that are active at warmer temperatures produce more offspring.

+5

Answers (2)

Know the Answer?

Houston Holland · Answer 1

A - Butterflies that express two variants of the enzyme are active over a greater range of temperature.

Nikolas Dorsey · Answer 2

The correct option is A) Butterflies that express two variants of the enzyme are active over a greater range of temperature.

Explanation:

The butterflies which fly most effectively at 29 degrees Celsius produce one type of variant for the particular glycolytic enzyme in the flight muscles. Whereas the butterflies which fly at 40 degrees Celsius produce anther type of variant for the particular glycolytic enzyme in the flight muscles.

The butterflies which are effective at both temperatures i. e 29 degrees Celsius and 40 degrees Celsius can produce both forms of the variant for the particular glycolytic enzyme in the flight muscles.