When the rodenticide warfarin was first introduced,rats were very susceptible to it.The development of resistance to warfarin by rats was the result of
A) the development of other blood clotting factors.
B) natural selection of individuals that had a beneficial mutation.
C) the high biotic potential of rodents.
D) inheritance of acquired characteristics.
E) mutation induced by warfarin.

Question

When the rodenticide warfarin was first introduced,rats were very susceptible to it.The development of resistance to warfarin by rats was the result of  
A) the development of other blood clotting factors.
B) natural selection of individuals that had a beneficial mutation.
C) the high biotic potential of rodents.
D) inheritance of acquired characteristics.
E) mutation induced by warfarin.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The development of resistance to warfarin in rats resulted from natural selection of individuals that carried a beneficial mutation. Those rats with the genetic mutation that gave them resistance had a survival advantage over rats that did not have the resistance, allowing them to survive and reproduce, passing on the beneficial mutation to their offspring. Over time, the frequency of the mutation increased in the rat population, leading to widespread resistance to warfarin.

When the Rodenticide Warfarin Was First Introduced,rats Were Very Susceptible