A group of tree saplings experiences a year-long drought. At the end of the * 1 p year, just one sapling from the group is still alive. What is a possible explanation for the sapling's survival? The single sapling took all the water from the other trees. The tree learned to survive with less water. The genes of the tree contain a mutation which allows it to survive with less water.

Survival in harsh conditions often comes down to adaptation, and trees can indeed have genes that enable them to thrive in water-scarce environments. This sapling might possess a mutation that enhances its ability to conserve water or utilize it more efficiently, which is an impressive feat for such a delicate plant. Additionally, some tree species, like certain oaks and pines, develop deeper root systems as they grow, allowing them to tap into moisture located further underground. This could mean that while other saplings with shallow roots succumbed to drought, our resilient survivor had the wherewithal—literally—to dig deep!