Which of the following is a valid interpretation of this data regarding prairie chicken populations in several states in the Midwest?
A)Prairie chicken populations in Illinois have a lower mutation rate than those in the other listed states.
B)Illinois prairie chickens lost genes from their genome as a result of a population crash.
C)Smaller populations of prairie chickens have greater reproductive success.
D)Larger populations of prairie chickens tend to have greater genetic diversity in their gene pools.

Question

Which of the following is a valid interpretation of this data regarding prairie chicken populations in several states in the Midwest? 
A)Prairie chicken populations in Illinois have a lower mutation rate than those in the other listed states. 
B)Illinois prairie chickens lost genes from their genome as a result of a population crash. 
C)Smaller populations of prairie chickens have greater reproductive success. 
D)Larger populations of prairie chickens tend to have greater genetic diversity in their gene pools.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The data shows that the states with larger prairie chicken populations (Minnesota and Nebraska) have higher genetic diversity, as measured by heterozygosity, than the state with a smaller population (Illinois). This suggests that larger populations tend to have greater genetic diversity. Option A is incorrect because the data does not provide information about mutation rates. Option B is incorrect because there is no evidence in the data to support the idea that Illinois prairie chickens lost genes as a result of a population crash. Option C is also incorrect because the data does not provide any information about reproductive success.

Which of the Following Is a Valid Interpretation of This