Question

A scientist shines low levels of ultraviolet radiation on a dish containing colonies of ruby-red bacteria. He then makes several replicate plates from this dish over many generations. He finds that in addition to the ruby-red color, there are also pink, orange, and yellow bacteria. Which of the following is the best explanation for these findings?

Answer 1

He finds that inaddition to the ruby-red color, there are also pink, orange, and yellowbacteria.

Answer 2

Mutations occurred in the gene for color and were passed on to successive generations of bacteria.