Name:___________________________ Partner:__________________________
Web Page: biologyinmotion.com Link
Go to Evolution lab
This is an online tutorial of evolution of a species of insect eating blue grabber creatures.
Follow the tutorial by clicking the next button at the top of each slide and reading along
with the instructions.
1. According to the site what is evolution “all about”?
2. Is this a real scenario? Is it realistic?
3. In a sentence summarize each of the 5 major points of natural selection
Struggle for existence:
Individual variation in a phenotype:
Inheritance:
Some phenotypes are better adapted:
Adaptations evolve:
5. How does mutation lead to variation?
Move ahead to the Natural Selection Simulation
This is your laboratory. You will run the simulations creating data and observations
about the blue grabbers. Your focus will be what factors influence their phenotypes over
time.
Trial 1 (default settings): Data and Observations
Cycles
0
5
25
50
100
150
200
250
Number of Phenotypes
Present
Mean
Phenotype
Up
Mutations
Down
Mutations
Mutation Rate=
Selection Strength=
Make four observations of how your grabbers changed over the course of the experiment.
How many cycles did it take for the first mutation to appear?
Paste (tape) a copy of your data graph below
Trial 2 (selection strength=0, mutation rate=0.3): Data and Observations
Cycles
0
5
25
50
100
150
200
250
Number of Phenotypes
Present
Mutation Rate=
Selection Strength=
Mean
Phenotype
Up
Mutations
Down
Mutations
Make four observations of how your grabbers changed over the course of the experiment.
How many cycles did it take for the first mutation to appear?
Paste (tape) a copy of your data graph below
Run these settings twice more and record the data below:
Mean Phenotype=
Number of phenotypes present=
Mean Phenotype=
Number of phenotypes present=
Trial 3 (settings of your choosing): Data and Observations
What factor are you examining with this trial?
Cycles
0
5
25
50
100
150
200
250
Number of Phenotypes
Present
Mean
Phenotype
Up
Mutations
Down
Mutations
Mutation Rate=
Selection Strength=
Make four observations of how your grabbers changed over the course of the experiment.
How many cycles did it take for the first mutation to appear?
Paste (tape) a copy of your data graph below
Discussion Questions: All answers should be in complete sentences and cite data
collected in your trials.
1. In each trial, which phenotype was predominant at the end? Citing data from above,
what are three major factors influencing an individual’s chance of surviving to reproduce.
2. Could you have a mutation 4 blue guy before having a mutation 3 blue guy? Explain.
3. Is mutation directional? That is, just because one mutation type seems to be
beneficial, does it happen more often than the other mutation? Cite data
4. The tutorial cites the evolution of a chicken wing as an example of some adaptations
finding new uses over time. In a narrative paragraph describe how the “grabber” of our
blue guys could become adaptive to another purpose besides grabbing insects.