In the early 1900s, experiments were conducted on two caterpillar species. The members of the two species

were each divided into two groups. One group of each species was placed under red light, while the other

group of each species was kept in the dark. When the caterpillars developed into butterflies, their wings

showed extreme color differences. Exposure to red light resulted in intensely colored wings, while those

kept in the dark had paler wing colors. The color differences were most likely due to

(1) mutations in the color-producing genes

(2) the caterpillars in the red light producing more DNA

(3) gene expression being affected by the environment

(4) the caterpillars in the dark evolving less than those in the light

Question

Kallie Mathews

Biology

23 February, 07:05

In the early 1900s, experiments were conducted on two caterpillar species. The members of the two species

were each divided into two groups. One group of each species was placed under red light, while the other

group of each species was kept in the dark. When the caterpillars developed into butterflies, their wings

showed extreme color differences. Exposure to red light resulted in intensely colored wings, while those

kept in the dark had paler wing colors. The color differences were most likely due to

(1) mutations in the color-producing genes

(2) the caterpillars in the red light producing more DNA

(3) gene expression being affected by the environment

(4) the caterpillars in the dark evolving less than those in the light

+4

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Jacobson · Answer 1

The most likely answer to your question would be (3) gene expression being affected by the environment.

This is the correct answer because these two species had each different environmental influences where one had enough light, the other didn't. Because this difference was apparent, the genetic potential that both of the species shared eventually manifested into something different. Intensely colored wings for some butterflies and paler wing colors for other butterflies.