Scientists investigated the effect of exercise on leg muscle strength in a species of small mammal.
The scientists measured the mean maximum force produced by the leg muscles of two groups of adults. The adults then bred. The scientists measured their offspring at the same age, before any of the offspring exercised.
| Adult group | Mean force before the investigation in N | Mean force after 8 weeks in N | Mean force produced by offspring in N |
|---|---|---|---|
| No exercise | 2.4 | 2.5 | 2.4 |
| Daily exercise | 2.4 | 3.1 | 2.5 |
In a wild population of the same species, an allele that causes stronger leg muscles is already present. Stronger leg muscles help the mammals escape from a new predator.
Explain why the results do not support Lamarck's idea and how the allele for stronger leg muscles could become more common in the wild population.
71 exam-style questions on AQA GCSE Biology 6.3 The development of understanding of genetics and evolution, covering 6.3.1 Theory of evolution, 6.3.2 Speciation, 6.3.3 The understanding of genetics, 6.3.4 Evidence for evolution, 6.3.5 Fossils, 6.3.6 Extinction, and 6.3.7 Resistant bacteria. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.