Organism
Arctic Fox
TL;DR
The Arctic fox demonstrates phenotypic plasticity through seasonal coat color change - white fur in winter, brown fur in summer.
The Arctic fox demonstrates phenotypic plasticity through seasonal coat color change - white fur in winter, brown fur in summer. Same fox, same DNA, different coloration triggered by environmental cues. The photoperiod (day length) triggers hormonal cascades that switch which pigment genes are expressed.
This example illustrates how gene regulation allows organisms to express different phenotypes without genetic mutation. The Arctic fox's ability to match its environment across seasons parallels how organizations can express different strategies using the same underlying capabilities.
Notable Traits of Arctic Fox
- Seasonal coat color change
- Photoperiod-triggered gene expression
- Camouflage adaptation