Question

Dr. Coyne describes an experiment in which dark mice have a higher survival rate than light mice on dark soil when owls are present. We would expect that the mouse population would get darker over time. Explain this phenomenon with reference to the relevant (and violated) Hardy Weinberg assumptions.

Answer 1

Answer:

According to Hardy Weinberg equilibrium, allele frequencies in a population remain constant given that there is no evolutionary force acting on the population. In the given case the situation is not ideal since the owls are acting like an evolutionary force for the mice population.

Darker mice will be able to camouflage better in dark soil and hence will be less targeted by the owls. As a result lighter coloured mice will decrease in numbers which will eventually increase the frequency of dark allele in the population, violating the Hardy Weinberg equilibrium.