Refer to the table above and then answer the questions that follow.
-The only known population of a reptile species lives on an African mountain. The population is relatively large, but no close relatives of this species are known. Suppose you could stop all mutations within the population and all emigration out of this population. Which statement best describes the probable future of this population?
A) The population will deteriorate after a few generations because of excessive inbreeding.
B) Evolution will continue as selection acts on the variability produced by sexual recombination of genes.
C) Although the population will cease to change, it may survive for as long as the environment remains constant.
D) Genetic drift will cause major evolutionary changes in the population.

Question

Refer to the table above and then answer the questions that follow.
-The only known population of a reptile species lives on an African mountain. The population is relatively large, but no close relatives of this species are known. Suppose you could stop all mutations within the population and all emigration out of this population. Which statement best describes the probable future of this population?
A) The population will deteriorate after a few generations because of excessive inbreeding. 
B) Evolution will continue as selection acts on the variability produced by sexual recombination of genes. 
C) Although the population will cease to change, it may survive for as long as the environment remains constant. 
D) Genetic drift will cause major evolutionary changes in the population.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Even without mutations, sexual recombination can still produce genetic variability, allowing natural selection to act and evolution to continue.

Refer to the Table Above and Then Answer the Questions