Name: ___________________________________
Date:__________
Period:________
Simulation Lab: Salmon, Bears, & Toxic Sludge- Oh my!
Materials:
fin shape alleles; G, g, and G1
bowls for each allele type(3)
Whiteboards and markers
Procedure:
1. Record your original salmon genotype in the chart below:
Gene
Genotype
Fin shape
Activity 1: Original Population
2. Calculate the class allele frequency and genotype frequency
a) Calculating Allele Frequency:
Total allele type / total alleles = allele frequency
Green locus (fin shape)
G___________/ __________= ________________
g_____________/ _________= _______________
Record both allele frequencies in Table 1 column ‘Activity 1’ below.
b) Calculating Genotype Frequency:
Total # of genotype type / total genotypes = genotype frequency
Green locus (fin shape)
Homozygous dominant GG genotype _______________/ _________________ = _______________
Homozygous recessive gg genotype _______________/ __________________ = ________________
Heterozygous Gg genotype
_______________/ __________________ = ________________
Record all genotype frequencies in Table 2 column ‘Activity 1’ below.
Table 1 Allele Frequencies: Fin shape Gene
Activity 1
After 2nd
Activity
Start of 3rd
Activity
After 3rd
Activity
G Allele
g Allele
G1
Mutant
Allele
Simulation Lab: Salmon, Bears, & Toxic Sludge- Oh my!
1
Name: ___________________________________
Date:__________
Period:________
Table 2 Genotype frequencies: Fin shape Gene
Type of genotype
Activity 1
After 2nd Activity
Start of 3rd Activity
After 3rd Activity
Homozygous
dominant genotype
(GG)
Homozygous
recessive genotype
(gg)
Heterozygous
genotype (Gg)
Homozygous
dominant mutant
genotype (G1G1)
Heterozygous mutant
genotype (G1G) (G1g)
Activity 2: Survive the Bear to Reproduce
Enter the spawning grounds and mate to make new generations! But BEWARE; a hungry bear may
try to eat you! If you are eaten, swap your alleles for the same alleles as a living salmon. (*the bear
does not eat you while you are mating*)
1. Mate!
a. Record your each parent’s genotype in the mating table below (for Generation 1).
b. ‘Fist-bump’ mate to determine your first offspring’s genotype for the fin shape gene.
i. Each parent, hold each allele in a separate hand and randomly bump fists to
match one of your alleles with your mate’s allele.
ii. Record the first offspring alleles in the mating table below.
c. Repeat these same steps, with the same mate to determine the second offspring.
2. Become an offspring!
a. You and your mate each become separate offspring.
b. Exchange your alleles for new offspring alleles.
c. Wait outside the lab space until everyone has finished Generation 1.
3. When the gong sounds, repeat steps 1a-2c with a different individual to complete Activity 2,
Generation 1-3 mating tables.
4. Return to desks. Calculate class allele and genotype frequency on whiteboards. Record in
Tables 1 and 2 in column ‘Activity 2’.
Simulation Lab: Salmon, Bears, & Toxic Sludge- Oh my!
2
Name: ___________________________________
Activity 2 Mating Tables:
Activity 2 Generation 1
Parent 1
genotype:
Parent 2
genotype:
First offspring
Fin shape allele
from parent 1
Fin shape allele
from parent 2
Offspring
Genotype
Activity 2 Generation 2
Parent 1
genotype:
Parent 2
genotype:
First offspring
Fin shape allele
from parent 1
Fin shape allele
from parent 2
Offspring
Genotype
Activity 2, Generation 3
Parent 1
genotype:
Parent 2
genotype:
First offspring
Fin shape allele
from parent 1
Fin shape allele
from parent 2
Offspring
Genotype
Date:__________
Period:________
Mating Tables
Activity 3 Mating Tables:
Second offspring
Second offspring
Second offspring
Activity 3, Generation 1
Parent 1
genotype:
Parent 2
genotype:
First offspring
Fin shape allele
from parent 1
Fin shape allele
from parent 2
Offspring
Genotype
Activity 3, Generation 2
Parent 1
genotype:
Parent 2
genotype:
First offspring
Fin shape allele
from parent 1
Fin shape allele
from parent 2
Offspring
Genotype
Activity 3, Generation 3
Parent 1
genotype:
Parent 2
genotype:
First offspring
Fin shape allele
from parent 1
Fin shape allele
from parent 2
Offspring
Genotype
Second offspring
Second offspring
Second offspring
Activity 3: Introduce a Mutation
Toxic sludge pollution introduced a mutant allele. If you have the G1 mutation, you swim faster and
survive the hungry bear that tries to eat you. If you are eaten, swap your alleles for the same alleles
as a living salmon. (*the bear does not eat you while you are mating*)
1. Calculate class Allele and genotype frequency with the mutations, record in column ‘Start
of Activity 3’ on Tables 1 and 2.
2. Repeat steps 3-5 from Activity 2. (Pick a new mate for each generation)
a. If your offspring does not have the G1 mutation, it dies. You must mate again.
b. Record new offspring alleles on mating tables.
3. Return to desks to calculate class allele and genotype frequency. Record in Tables 1.1-2.2,
column ‘After 3rd Activity’.
4. Answer the analysis questions.
Simulation Lab: Salmon, Bears, & Toxic Sludge- Oh my!
3
Name: ___________________________________
Date:__________
Period:________
Simulation Lab: Salmon, Bears, & Toxic Sludge- Oh my!
Analysis Questions:
Use data tables 1-2 to answer the questions below in complete sentences:
1. At the start and end of the lab, individuals had different genotypes for the same fin shape
gene. What was the source of this variation (different allele versions for a gene)?
2. Was fin shape a heritable trait (passed on from parent to offspring)? How do you know?
3. For the fin shape gene, describe the change in allele frequency from Activity 1 to the end of
Activity 3. (Refer to data table 1)
4. For the fin shape gene, describe the change in genotype frequency from Activity 1 to the end
of Activity 3. (Refer to data table 2.2) How is this different from allele frequency?
5. The G1 mutation was an example of complete dominance. Did the G1 mutation allow some
salmon in the population to better to survive and reproduce? (Explain the G1 mutation’s
effect on allele and gene frequency).
6. How does this lab explain why genetic variation (different allele versions of a gene) is
important for a population? Which allele version allowed individuals to better survive and
reproduce?
Simulation Lab: Salmon, Bears, & Toxic Sludge- Oh my!
4