What frequency was the white coat recessive gene estimated to have in wild Bengal tigers?
Answer
About one in 10,000 individuals
In a large, naturally diverse wild population of Bengal tigers, the rare, recessive gene responsible for the white coat was estimated to appear with a low frequency, specifically cited as occurring in approximately one out of every 10,000 individuals. This rarity is attributed to natural selection; the white coat provides poorer camouflage in the typical dense foliage and dappled sunlight where these tigers hunt, meaning individuals with the orange coat are more likely to survive and reproduce successfully in the wild environment, keeping the recessive trait rare.
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