Harmful vs. Beneficial Mutation Lab: Bird Beaks
Name:_____________
Standard: Student will understand the concepts of evolution.
Vocabulary:
Mutation: A random change in DNA.
Fitness: The ability of a individual or species to survive and reproduce due to genotype or
phenotype.
Pre-Lab Questions:
In our lab model, we will be modeling birds. What types of traits or characteristics
might increase the FITNESS level for birds?
Competition #1: Survival of the Fittest
Bird Name
Bird Beak
Shape
Amount of
seed eaten
Subtract
amount of
seed lost
TOTAL SEED
1. All birds had similar phenotypes in round one. What determined “winners” and
“losers?”
Competition #2: Mutations Appear
Bird Name Bird Beak
Shape
Amount of
seed eaten
Subtract
amount of
seed lost
TOTAL
SEED
TOTAL
OFFSPRING
Use the chart below to determine number of offspring
Winner: 50 offspring
2nd place: 40 offspring
3rd place: 5 offspring
4th place: 1 offspring
1. Who had the highest fitness level during competition #1 in your group? Why
were they so successful?
2. Who had the highest fitness level during competition #2 in your group? Why
were they so successful?
3. Describe the mutations introduced in your group. Were they beneficial or
harmful?
4. If you continued this experiment beyond #2, describe what you would expect
your population to look like 5 generations later.
5.
Did any behaviors increase survival rates in your group? What were those
behaviors?