Natural Selection

Unit Target: Evolution explains the unity and diversity of life.

Learning Target: Evaluate current evolutionary studies involving molecular biology. (reasoning)

Truth or Baloney:DNA is a code.TruthIf we learn the DNA code for each organism we will

be able to determine if species are related.TruthIf we learn how species are genetically related we can

also learn more about how they evolved.Truth

Which of the following is a concern that may arise from synthetically manufactured living things.

A. They could be used for vaccine production.B. They could be used to produce clean fuel.C. They could be used in biological warfare.D. They could be used to make drugs to treat

diseases such as malaria.

C.

VARIATION

Learning Target: Identify the key issues in a model of artificial selection. (reasoning)

Circle the word that best completes the sentence.

Artificial selection is the process by which (humans / nature ) select(s) which traits will be passed down to offspring.

Match each of Darwin’s key ideas to an artificial selection example.

Variation

Inheritance

Selection

Time

The botanist chose the two types of apples he wanted to cross breed.

It took 5 growing seasons to produce a large, yellow, tart baking apple

There are many different types of apples.

The combination of two apple tree varieties will produce genetically different offspring.

How did artificial selection help Darwin explain evolution?A. If species changed over time through artificial

selection than species could change over time in the natural world.

B. Artificial selection proved that species do not change over time.

C. Artificial selection showed that people should not interfere with nature.

D. Artificial selection did not help Darwin explain evolution.

A.

NATURAL SELECTION AND ADAPTATION

Define key terms associate with natural selection. (knowledge)

Circle the word that best completes each sentence.

In natural selection, ( humans / nature ) choose(s) which species will survive and reproduce.

Truth or Baloney?

Adaptations must be inherited.Truth

Adaptations prevent a species from surviving and reproducing.

Baloney. Adaptations allow a species to survive and reproduce.

Which of the following are examples of fitness?

A. Wolves have powerful jaws and sharp teeth for hunting prey.

B. Wolves live in packs which helps them hunt their prey.

C. The white rabbit is camouflaged in the snow making it difficult for wolves to see them.

D. The rabbit is quick and agile making them difficult to catch.

All are example of fitness because all of the examples explain why an organisms is suited to its environment making it more likely to survive and reproduce.

Circle the best answer.

Natural selection acts on ( acquired / inherited ) traits.

Natural selection refers to the ability of an organism to survive and reproduce- therefore, offspring inherit the parents traits.

Acquired traits refer to a trait that is not dependant upon inheritance but is usually affected by the environment. We discussed this during genetics. You may inherit the ability to speak but you acquire the ability to speak English because you live with a family that speaks English.

Learning Target: Determine the conditions under which natural selection occurs. (reasoning)

Which of the following is not an example of natural selection?A. The birds with the beaks that were most suited to eating beans survived

and reproduced.B. The beans that were most difficult for the birds to eat survived and

reproduced.C. The puppies that were highly trainable and fast were bred to produce

offspring that would be able to retrieve birds for hunting.D. The dark colored pocket mouse which lives on the dark colored lava flow

is camouflaged from the owl so dark colored pocket mice are more likely to survive and reproduce than white colored pocket mice.

C. This is an example of artificial selection.

How was “Survival of the Fittest” modeled in the “Natural Selection Lab” performed in class?

A. The beans that were most difficult to pick up were unable to reproduce.

B. All of the beans survived and reproduced at equal rates.C. The birds with the beaks most suited to picking up beans

survived and reproduced.D. All of the above.

C. “Survival of the fittest” is the ability of an organisms to survive and reproduce because it is suited or “fit” for its environment.

Truth or Baloney?

An organism that inherits traits suited to its environment will show decreased fitness.

Baloney. Inheriting traits suited to the environment will increase fitness.

Natural selection drives evolution becauseA. it results in species changing over time.B. it prevents species from changing over time.C. natural selection is a car and evolution is a

passenger.D. Natural selection does not drive evolution.

A.