Instructions for AP Biology Investigation 1—Artificial Selection
Pre-lab: Complete Parts I—IV prior to conducting the laboratory.
I. Title: Do not develop a title until you have completed the Pre-lab. Then, develop a title for this
laboratory.
II. Objectives: See College Board (= CB) Lab handout page S17.
III. Pre-lab Questions:
Note: You will need to read the entire lab handout carefully. Also, read page 445 in your textbook and
study Figure 22-10.
1. What is differential reproduction? How does it lead to evolution?
2. What is artificial selection? Give at least 3 examples of species that have undergone artificial
selection by humans. For each species, answer the following questions:
 What trait were people interested in selecting for?
 How did the selection occur? (What was the procedure?)
IV. Methods:
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Read the CB procedure very carefully.
In one paragraph, summarize Procedure Steps 1 – 2.
In one paragraph, summarize Procedure Steps 3 – 7.
In one paragraph, summarize Procedure Steps 8 – 10.
In one paragraph, summarize Procedure Steps 11 – 14.
V. Data:
1. List of possible variable traits for artificial selection (from Procedure Steps 3 and 5).
2. Data table and histogram of the frequency distribution of the class selected trait (Procedure
Step 5).
3. Statistical analysis of the class selected trait (mean, mode, median, range, standard deviationProcedure Step 5).
4. Repeat #2 and #3 (above) for the selected population of plants (Procedure Step 7).
5. Repeat #2 and #3 (above) for the second-generation population of plants (Procedure Step 7).
VI. Conclusions:
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Answer the 6 bulleted “Analyzing and Evaluating Results” questions on page S23.
Did evolution occur in your Fast Plant population? Justify your conclusion.
VII. Theme Correlation: Explain how this investigation correlates to Big Idea 1 and at least two Enduring
Understandings from Big Idea 1. Be sure to state Big Idea 1 and the Enduring Understandings and then
explain their relationships to the Investigation.