Genetic drift is the process where there are random fluctuations in the gene frequencies within a population. this can eventually lead to the new population being genetically distinct from the original. due to this difference, there is a hypothesis that genetic drift leads to the formation of new species. what is this process known as?
a) gene flow
b) speciation
c) natural selection
d) genetic diversification

Many state and local authorities are making laws regarding recreation on lakes, rivers, and oceans to reduce water pollution. why would lawmakers need to consult with scientists before making these laws? a) to make scientists feel important b) so that the laws reduce pollution by a sufficient amount c) so that parks and lakefront facilities will still make large profits d) so that the public will believe that the laws are important to follow

Bisphenol a (often called bpa) is a chemical found in products that people use every day, from water bottles to food containers to children's toys. unfortunately, bpa leaches out of its many products and makes its way into our bodies. what are the health effects of bpa exposure? ongoing research is finding that elevated exposure to bpa can affect a wide variety of developmental and physiological processes, but one of the first studies of bpa's health effects came about because of a simple mistake in the lab. at a laboratory at case western reserve university in 1998, geneticist patricia hunt was making a routine check of her female lab mice. as she extracted and examined developing eggs from the ovaries, she began to wonder what had gone wrong. she noticed that many of the eggs showed problems with their chromosomes, and some had irregular amounts of genetic material, which can lead to miscarriages and birth defects in mammals. she learned that a lab assistant had mistakenly washed the plastic mouse cages and water bottles with a harsh soap, releasing bpa from the plastic. knowing that bpa is an endocrine disruptor, a chemical that can enter organisms and mimic hormones, hunt set out to discover whether it had adversely affected her mice.

Study the picture of the ocean. which is the best example of an organism’s niche shown in the picture? a. the environment contains several of the same species of coral. b. the shallow area of the ocean meets the needs of the coral and the fish. c. the ocean has fish and coral that live in the same area. d. the coral take in food from the water and provide shelter for the fish.