In 1986, a nuclear power accident in Chernobyl, USSR (now Ukraine), led to high radiation levels for kilometres surrounding the plant. The high levels of radiation caused elevated mutation rates in the surviving organisms, and evolutionary biologists have been studying rodent populations in the Chernobyl area ever since. Based on your understanding of evolutionary mechanisms, which of the following most likely occurred in the rodent populations following the accident?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The high levels of radiation in the Chernobyl area caused elevated mutation rates in the surviving organisms, including rodent populations. This would have led to increased genetic variation over time due to new alleles being introduced into the population through mutation. However, it is unlikely that these mutations would have caused major changes in rodent physiology or caused genetic drift and decreased fitness, as rodent populations would likely have been able to adapt and continue to survive in the area. The fixation of new alleles is also unlikely, as this would require the new mutations to become fixed in the entire population, which would be a slow process.

In 1986, a Nuclear Power Accident in Chernobyl, USSR (Now