Question

a disease spread throughout a population of frogs. it was observed that some frogs got sick quickly, while others were unaffected. genetic testing shows that the unaffected frogs have unique combinations of alleles not found in the more vulnerable frogs.
which of the following best explains how genetic recombination may have helped some frogs survive the disease?

it created new allele combinations, increasing the chance that some frogs survive

it prevented natural selection by maintaining the same traits

the disease mutated and became less effective against the frogs

it ensured all frogs have the same immune response to the disease

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each option:

1. Genetic recombination creates new allele combinations. In the frog population, this new combination could give some frogs traits (like disease resistance) that increase their survival chance, matching the scenario of unique alleles in unaffected frogs.
2. The second option is wrong because genetic recombination promotes variation, not maintaining same traits to prevent natural selection.
3. The third option is incorrect as the question is about how genetic recombination helped frogs, not the disease mutating.
4. The fourth option is wrong because genetic recombination increases genetic diversity, so frogs won't have the same immune response.

Answer:

A. It created new allele combinations, increasing the chance that some frogs survive