Monday, February 17, 2020
2/17 Biology update and homework due 2/24
Hi folks,
Today we took the time to get deeper into evolution by really exploring the concept of natural selection.
With that in mind, we also did a very interesting lab today. Using a paper airplane design as a model bird, we explored how random mutations and natural selection could slowly evolve a species into one that is more fit for its environment.
For homework this week please answer the following questions about today's lab. I'll send data from each of the groups in a separate email so you can see a larger sample size. The write up for the lab is on page 314 and 315 in your book if you wish to refer to it.
There will be a quiz next week so please be prepared. Some possible topics on the quiz include: Darwin's 4 postulates, natural selection, genetic drift, stressors, natural selection (see question 15 below), allele frequency, non-Mendelian genetics, blood type problem, modes of selection (see questions 5 below).
1. What was "selecting" for the successful bird?
2. What represented the "mutations".
3. In each trial you used a "clone" of the previous generation. Why is the term clone appropriate?
4. Is this lab an example of disruptive, directive, or stabilizing selection? (May need to use your notes or the book if you don't recall these terms.) Why do you think so?
5. Did each generation always progress? In other words, did each generation get a farther flyer?
6. How does this lab represent natural selection?
7. In a way, there were three traits that were adapting in order to create a better flyer. Which three traits were involved in this model?
8. Describe two aspects of this investigation that model evolution of biological organisms.
9. How might this lab help explain the observations Darwin made about finches on the Galapagos Islands?
10. How would you say the term "fitness" is represented in this lab?
11. Using this lab, give an example of each of Darwin's four postulates (DIOR). (Hint: one of them actually is not represented in this lab.)
12. How would you alter the lab if the environment this population of birds was in was very very windy, so that if a bird left the ground it may be blown out to sea? What would you change to model this new scenario.
13. This question is not based on the lab.
In class we discussed four different "stressors". Get food. Not be food, Reproduce, Climate. For each stressor, give me an example of how natural selection could lead to an adaptation.
For example, a species of bird is an insect eater. All the birds in the population have beaks and some have beaks that are slightly longer than the others. Those that have the longer beaks have an easier time finding food so they live longer, are stronger, and can reproduce more. Due to that, the allele for longer beaks becomes more and more prevalent in the population. Please give me another example of "Get Food" as well as the other three. I highly recommend putting some thought into this as a version of this question will be on an upcoming quiz.
Monday, February 10, 2020
2/10 Biology Class update and homework due 2/17
Hi folks,
Today we continued looking at evolution by taking a deeper look into natural selection. We did a lab where we modeled the change in over time in a gene pool of rabbits.
For homework this week please answer the following questions.
These are based on today's lab.
1. What did the poker chips represent? Why did we use two different colors of chips?
2. What was the original gene frequency of the F and the f alleles before selection occurred?
3. How did the gene frequency of the F and f alleles change by the 10th generation (or at least as far as you got)?
4. How do you explain that both alleles, F and f, changed in frequency over time in the lab?
5. How is this simulation an example of evolution by natural selection?
6. In nature, how is it that lethal alleles, like furlessness, are still passed along through the generations and not completely selected out of the population?
7. How did the bag of chips represent the gene pool?
8. If we wanted to represent artificial selection, what could we have done differently for this simulation?
9. If we wanted to represent genetic drift (random change in the gene pool), what could we have done differently in this simulation?
10. If the temperature warmed so that the furless bunnies didn't die, what would that have done to the gene pool over time?
From today's quiz, it appears that perhaps a bit more work with non-mendelian genetics may be a good idea. :) Here you go. (These are great quiz questions btw.)
11. What is the difference between non-mendelian genetics and mendelian genetics?
12. We covered 4 different types of non-mendelian genetic possibilities. What where they?
13. Describe what happens in a co-dominance situation. Give an example.
14. Describe what happens in a incomplete dominance situation. Give an example.
15. Describe what happens in a multiple-allele situation. Give an example.
16. If a dad with type AB blood and a mom that has type A blood has a child, what are the possible blood types of the child. DO THE PUNNETTS. (BTW, there's more that one Punnett here, in fact there are 2 Punnetts.)
17. If a If a dad with type B blood and a mom that has type O blood has a child, what are the possible blood types of the child. DO THE PUNNETTS. (BTW, there's more that one Punnett here, in fact there are 2 Punnetts.)
18. If a dad with type O blood and a mom that has type AB blood has a child, what are the possible blood types of the child. Only one possibility here…hooray!
Monday, February 3, 2020
2/3 Biology update and homework due 2/10
Hi folks,
Today we finally began our dive into the concept of evolution. To get the ball rolling, we began by discussing what evidence and questions came up over time to cause naturalists and scientists to question how the diversity of life came to be.
There will be a quiz next week, so be sure to study up on today's material and make sure you can nail those non-mendelian genetic questions.
1. What are two definitions of evolution?
2. What are 5 questions/evidence that provide clues for the theory of evolution? Give a short description of each one.
3. What are two misconceptions regarding evolution?
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