What fundamental genetic concept drives the ability of *Pieris rapae* to rapidly exploit new environments?
Answer
The utilization of pre-existing genetic plasticity by favoring existing variations
The rapid colonization success of the Cabbage White suggests that evolution in this species often relies less on generating entirely new mutations and more on shuffling or strongly favoring existing genetic variations that already exist within the population. This pre-existing genetic plasticity allows individuals possessing traits suited for new environmental challenges—like faster development or tolerance to novel toxins—to quickly out-reproduce less-suited neighbors. This mechanism allows the species to establish itself swiftly in new geographical regions, demonstrating a highly flexible genetic architecture responding to novel environmental pressures.
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