Post on 23-Feb-2016
description
EvobotsStudying Evolution Using Lego Robots
Natural Selection Natural selection is a process that
causes heritable alleles that are helpful for survival and reproduction to become more common, and harmful alleles to become more rare.
This occurs because organisms with “better” alleles pass on more copies of these heritable traits to the next generation
Adaptations Adaptations are the characteristics
that give individuals better chances of surviving and or reproducing.
Car #1
What is this car adapted for?
Car #1
Adapted for s p e e d
Car #1
Adapted for s p e e d
This Pronghorn Antelope is also adapted for speed.
Car #2
What is this car adapted for?
Car #2
Adapted for CLIMBING
Car #2
Adapted for CLIMBING
This big horned sheep is also adapted for climbing.
Car #3
What is this vehicle adapted for?
Car #3
Adapted for water and land-- amphibious
Car #3
Adapted for water and land-- amphibious
This tiger salamander is also adapted for a life in both land and water.
Car #4
What is this vehicle adapted for?
Car #4
Adapted for safety and protection
Car #4
Adapted for safety and protection
This desert tortoise is also adapted for safety and protection.
Car #5
What is this vehicle adapted for?
Car #5
Adapted as a generalist. It’s good at a lot of things but not great at any.
Car #5
Adapted as a generalist
(speed, protection, climbing…)
This coyote is also a generalist. It is medium speed, ok at climbing…
Car #6
Toyota Prius (Hybrid)
Car #6
Adapted to use less resources
Toyota Prius (Hybrid)
Car #6
Adapted to use less resources
This kangaroo rat also survives with few resources.
Toyota Prius (Hybrid)
The Ancestral State This is a photo of
the first car, a Model-T Ford.
All the cars we just looked at evolved from this original
The Ancestral State All the cars have
a common ancestor but are now adapted for different environments.
Notice how the Toyota Prius evolved from the Toyota Camry. This is a more recent ancestor for the Prius.
A Tale of Intermediate Forms When looking at a 1909 Model-T Ford
and a 2010 Ford Mustang it is hard to see how we got from one to the other– they look so different.
?
A Tale of Intermediate Forms However, if we look at the history of
cars, we get a better picture
1909 1920
A Tale of Intermediate Forms1909
1920 1927
A Tale of Intermediate Forms1909 1920
1927 1932
A Tale of Intermediate Forms1909 1920 1927
1932 1938
A Tale of Intermediate Forms1909 1920 1927 1932
1938 1948
A Tale of Intermediate Forms1909 1920 1927 1932 1938
1948 1952
A Tale of Intermediate Forms1909 1920 1927 1932 1938
1948
1952 1960
A Tale of Intermediate Forms1909 1920 1927 1932 1938
1948 1952
1960 1964
A Tale of Intermediate Forms1909 1920 1927 1932 1938
1948 1952 1960
1964 1968
A Tale of Intermediate Forms1909 1920 1927 1932 1938
1948 1952 1960
1968 1975
1964
A Tale of Intermediate Forms
1975 1985
1909 1920 1927 1932 1938
1948 1952 1960 1964 1968
A Tale of Intermediate Forms
1975
1985
1909 1920 1927 1932 1938
1948 1952 1960 1964 1968
1995
A Tale of Intermediate Forms
1975 1985
1909 1920 1927 1932 1938
1948 1952 1960 1964 1968
1995 2005
A Tale of Intermediate Forms
1975 1985
1909 1920 1927 1932 1938
1948 1952 1960 1964 1968
1995
20102005
A Tale of Intermediate Forms
1975 1985
1909 1920 1927 1932 1938
1948 1952 1960 1964 1968
1995 20102005
Evobot Lesson Together we will all build an ancestral state. Then, you will have 30 minutes to develop a
Evobot to compete in a specific environment.
Environments Flats (The fastest evobot has the
advantage) Mountains (The evobot that can
climb the steepest hill has the advantage)
Environments
Founder (The evobot that is completed first has an advantage)
Desert (The evobot that uses the least legos or resources gains an advantage)
Reproduction (The best looking evobot and the weirdest looking evobot gain an advantage)