Dr. Shields is a scientist at the local botanical gardens. Recently, she completed an investigation involving a specific type of flowering plant. Part of her investigation involved measuring features of the plants over 100 successive generations.

The table below summarizes Dr. Shields' measurements. Examine the measurements, and be sure to note that the table shows data only for the first and every tenth generation.

Generation
Average Stem
Length (cm)
Average Leaf
Width (cm)
Average Flower
Diameter (cm)
1
14.2
4.1
5.6
10
14.4
4.1
5.6
20
15.8
4.1
5.6
30
17.1
3.7
5.5
40
18.9
3.1
5.6
50
20.3
2.7
5.6
60
20.3
2.3
6.1
70
20.3
2.2
6.8
80
20.2
2.3
7.6
90
20.3
2.3
7.9
100
20.3
2.3
8.2

Based on the table above, Generation 100 is very different from Generation 1. The difference in flower diameter can best be explained by

A.
minor genetic changes that occurred over Generations 50 through 100.
B.
major genetic changes that occurred over Generations 20 through 30.
C.
minor genetic changes that occurred over Generations 1 through 50.
D.
major genetic changes that occurred over Generations 1 through 100.