Question

a biologist studying petunias identifies 38 different petal colors. which statement best explains why petunia flowers can have different petal colors? different alleles code for different petal colors. different genes will activate to code for different petal colors. petunia flowers change color depending on the available sunlight. petunias destroy all but one gene for petal color.

Explanation:

Alleles are alternative forms of a gene. Different alleles can result in different phenotypic traits, such as petal color in petunias. Gene activation for a particular trait (like petal color) is usually related to alleles of the same gene rather than different genes activating. Petunia flower color is mainly a genetic trait (due to alleles) rather than changing just based on sunlight (though environment can have some minor effects in some cases but not the main reason here). And petunias do not destroy genes for petal color.

Answer:

Different alleles code for different petal colors.