Q45 - Artificial Selection Reveals Genetic Variation in Eyespot Traits
To investigate the evolution of butterfly eyespots, their mean size and colour was measured in each generation. Butterflies were split into 4 groups based on the colour (width of the golden ring) ratio (1), or size ratio (2), of their top and bottom eyespots. The most extreme butterflies in each group were bred together, and this was repeated with each successive generation.
Using the information and data, determine which of the statements are true or which are false.
A. Top:bottom eyespot colour ratio has greater genetic variation than top:bottom eyespot size ratio.
B. Simply selecting for top eyespots which are more golden will produce bottom eyespots which are more golden.
C. Many relatives of this species have very different top:bottom eyespot size ratios.
D. Eyespot size would remain constant if random butterflies of this experimental population were mated.
Question reproduced from IBO 2017, Theoretical Exam A, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 - attributed to the International Biology Olympiad. Open the full exam PDF · Official answer key & worked solutions