When Mutants Take Over

the process by which forms of life having traits that better enable them to adapt to specific environmental pressures, as predators, changes in climate, or

competition for food or mates, will tend to survive and reproduce in greater numbers than others of their

kind, thus ensuring the perpetuation of those favorable traits in succeeding generations.

a sudden departure from the parent type in one or more

heritable characteristics, caused by a

change in a gene or a chromosome.

Malaria and Sickle Cell Anemia in Africa

Groups of 3-4

One piece of fabric that will serve as the habitat. Start with 20 each of 3 colorsof dots (starting population - total of 60). The dots will be the prey.

One person is the “game keeper/warden” – control the colored dots

Two people will be the predators (hunting the prey).

Another person will be the recorder – taking note of the number of prey of eachcolor. Notice the data table on the worksheet and the graph paper. Coloredpencils are for graphing the results.

Two predators look away as the gamekeeper lays out the fabric and scatters the 60 dots from the start bag. I am the time keeper. When I say start, the predators have 20 seconds to pick up as many dots as they can one at a time.

When I say stop, the group members separate out the different colored dots that are left and determine how many there are of each color.

Simulate reproduction by adding one paper dot for each remaining dot of that color. (There are bags of extra dots for each color) Record the number of dots of each color in the table provided on the worksheet.

Repeat the predation using the second generation of dots.

Count the remaining dots and simulate reproduction. Record the number of dots in the third generation.

You do not have to simulate reproduction as before, but rather you can just calculate the number of individuals that would be in the third generation beginning population.

Now graph the results from the three generations. Use colors that are similar to the colored dots.

Which, if any, colors of paper dots survived better than others in the second and third generation?

What might be the reason that predators did not select these colors as much as they did other colors?

What effect did capturing a particular colored dot have on the numbers of that color in the following generation?

Create a presentation of your mutant using PowerPoint®The presentation must include:

The name of your mutantBefore and after pictures of your mutant.

Why you chose those particular mutations?Your mutant’s current dietary habits.

Use the internet to find your animal’s current abilities, shape, eating habits, etc. You will also need to research their new habitat.

After researching your animal, make the necessary

“mutations” for their survival in the new habitat. Use the paint program to draw your

mutant.

Build a model from clay of you mutant Play Who Wants to Live a Million Years?

Evolution Natural Selection

Vote for your favorite class created mutant.

Answer the following question is approximately one paragraph to be turned in:

What does the theory of natural selection mean to you? Provide a definition of the concept in your own words (1-2 sentences).

Provide an example of natural selection (other than the ones presented in class (~2 sentences). This example could be real or fictitious (made up) as long as it shows natural selection.

Comment on why it is important to understand this concept for the benefit of understanding other ideas in science/biology (1-2 sentences).

This assignment is worth a total of 12 points and credit will be distributed as shown in the below rubric.

Understands fully/explainedclearly (4pts.)

Understandssomewhat/explained Well (3pts)

Somewhatunderstands/explained sufficiently (2pts)

Somewhatmisunderstands/explanationdeficient (1 pt)

Definition

Example

Benefit