The Galapagos Origami Bird
Materials and Procedure
Materials and Procedure
Look at the top of Results Sheet #1, the DNA sequence for the original parent: (A G C T A). Now see the Gametes Mutation Box (GMB), a sequence of DNA with 5 empty boxes.
4) Fly the new generation (3 birds). The one that flies the furthest (or the furthest average
of three flights, if time) will survive and reproduce, becoming the new parent bird: the "winner." (The bird with the original parent phenotype can be the one that wins and produces in the next generation, but it might not). See Flying details below.
5) Repeat steps 3-4 until you have completed both Results Sheets through four generations (f4) of offspring. Instead of using the "Parent (P)" bird each time, use the "winning" bird - the one that flew the longest (average) distance in the previous generation as the new parent bird.
3
FLYING THE BIRDS
a. Take your 3 birds to the assigned place (hallway, empty room, etc.). Be sure to take a
tape measure to measure the distances flown. If possible, use metric tape measure. If not available, measure in inches and translate to cm. Just multiply your inches measurement (estimated to nearest tenth of an inch) by 2.54 Record the results.
b. Standing at the "take-off" line (strip of masking tape), release each bird with a gentle, overhand pitch. Try to release all the birds in the same way.
c. For each flight, have a team member place a small piece of tape where the "head" (paper clip end) landed. Number the tape of each landing with the bird number (and its flight number: 1st, 2nd, 3rd if you are averaging multiple flights).
d. Have two team members using tape measure (or meter stick) to measure distance flown for each bird from the take-off line to its landing spot.
e. If time allows, fly each bird 2 or 3 times, record distances, and find the average distance flown. Your teacher will tell you whether to just do 1 flight each, or find averages.
f. Circle the bird on your Results Sheet that flew the longest distance (or longest average distance). That bird will be the parent of the next generation.
g. Return to your classroom, and using dry-erase pen, put the proper genetic sequence for that new parent on the transparent plastic in the Gametes Mutation Box.
h. Using the 2 Random spinners, figure out the mutations for all 3 birds for the next generation (including the winner "parent" bird). See item 3) a-g, page 3. Fill in that information on your Results Sheet for the appropriate generation.
f. Repeat the Flying instructions (a-h). Continue to breed, test, and record data for as many generations as you can in the time we have, at least 4 generations if possible.