Question

tobias notices that a particular kind of flower comes in many slightly different shades of pink. in other places, the same flower may be many shades of purple or even blue. he knows that some flowers colors depend on where they are planted, while others are determined by their breed. he hypothesizes that the different colors of these flowers are genetically different. which of the following experimental setups is best for testing this hypothesis?

a. tobias transplants several of the flowers, swapping some from the middle of a pink patch with some in the middle of a blue patch. he observes the results.
b. tobias collects data on many patches of the flowers he comes across. he records flower color, how much shade the plant gets, observes how moist the ground is, and measures the grounds ph. he compares his data and looks for patterns.
c. tobias takes home several pink flowers, several purple flowers, and several blue flowers in pots. he breeds and interbreeds them, observing the results.
d. tobias experiments with using different fertilizers and composts, such as pine needles, observing if the presence of these substances will change the colors of the surrounding flowers.

Explanation:

Analyze the hypothesis

The hypothesis is that the different colors of these flowers are genetically determined (by their breed) rather than environmentally determined (by where they are planted).

Evaluate Option A

Transplanting flowers between pink and blue patches tests environmental influence. If pink flowers stay pink in a blue patch, it supports a genetic basis, but it does not directly test breeding or inheritance.

Evaluate Option B

Collecting observational data on shade, moisture, and pH only shows correlations with environmental factors. It does not manipulate variables to test genetic inheritance.

Evaluate Option C

Breeding and interbreeding pink, purple, and blue flowers in controlled pots directly tests how flower color is inherited across generations. This isolates genetic factors from environmental soil factors.

Evaluate Option D

Testing different fertilizers and composts only tests environmental factors (specifically soil chemistry), not genetic inheritance.

Answer:

• A. Tobias transplants several of the flowers, swapping some from the middle of a pink patch with some in the middle of a blue patch. He observes the results.
• B. Tobias collects data on many patches of the flowers he comes across. He records flower color, how much shade the plant gets, observes how moist the ground is, and measures the ground's pH. He compares his data and looks for patterns.
• C. Tobias takes home several pink flowers, several purple flowers, and several blue flowers in pots. He breeds and interbreeds them, observing the results. (Correct answer)
• D. Tobias experiments with using different fertilizers and composts, such as pine needles, observing if the presence of these substances will change the colors of the surrounding flowers.