Natural Selection Simulation

MS-LS4-4 Construct an explanation based on evidence that describes how genetic variations of traits in a population increase some individuals’ probability of surviving and reproducing in a specific environment.

Learning Target

Students will construct an explanation based on evidence that describes how genetic variations of traits in a population increase some individuals’ probability of surviving and reproducing in a specific environment.

Success Criteria

I can identify limiting factors that control a population.
I can make observations and inferences about simulation.
I can identify factors that may increase or decrease an organism's probability of survival.

Questions to Ponder

What are environmental factors that might impact the growth of a population of organisms?
What are physiological (the normal functions of living organisms and their parts) factors that might impact the growth of a population of organisms?

Limiting Factors

A factor present in an environment that controls a process, particularly growth, abundance, or distribution of a population of organisms in an ecosystem

Natural Selection Simulation

Warm-up

Click Run Now to begin the simulation.
Start by adding a friend and changing the variables such as hair color, teeth, etc.
Explore the program for about 5 minutes and then answer the following questions:
- Identify the limiting factors that you have control over in the simulation.
- What happens to the bunny population if a friend is never added? Why is this?
- What happens if food is infinite and no predators enter the picture?

Challenge 1

Find a way to make the bunnies take over with brown fur! Try all Mutations, Environments, and Selection Factors.

Which Mutation worked best?
...which Environment?
...which Selection Factor?

Challenge 2

Find a way to make 200 bunnies when food is a selection factor!

Which Mutation worked best?
...which Environment?
...which Selection Factor?

Challenge 3

Find a way for the bunnies to take over when the environment is the arctic!

Which Mutation worked best?
...which Environment?
...which Selection Factor?

Experiment

Design your own experiment to test a hypothesis.

Ask a question, make a hypothesis, and determine your procedures (including identifying the independent, dependent, and controlled variables.)
Run your experiment and record your results.

Back to Teams...

Describe your experiment and the results.
How does this simulation differ from what might happen in a true ecosystem?

Assess your understanding...

Answer the following question about the Natural Selection Labs we have completed up to this point (Peppered Moths, Oysters, Rabbits.)

Click me to answer!

Thingdom

Selective Breeding Simulation

In this simulation you will be responsible for a Thing. You must adopt, care for, and make baby things as you learn about the concept of Selective Breeding.

Before the Game

Give an example of a trait.
What is every living thing made of?
What are alleles?

During the game...

As you are playing, think about the following questions and answer them as you are playing.
Why do you have to carefully choose a "thing" that you mate with? *
Describe a situation in nature where an animal has to impress a mate to be able to breed successfully. *
Describe a situation where a person might want to selectively breed one animal with another. *

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