Two populations of mice living in the same forest are separated by a large river. After a rainstorm, severe flooding brings several mice from one population to the other population. When the mice from the first population reproduce with members of the second population, which of the following likely occur?
A. The offspring will be genetically identical to its parent from the first population
B. The offspring will be forced to leave the second population
C. The offspring in the second population will have greater genetic variety
D. All the offspring will die as a result of reproductive mutations
C. The offspring in the second population will have greater genetic variety
When individuals from two genetically distinct populations reproduce, their offspring will inherit a mixture of genetic traits from both populations, increasing genetic diversity within the second population. This can potentially be beneficial for the population's overall fitness and adaptability to changing environmental conditions.