Understanding Evolution: your one-stop source for information on evolution
Resource library Teaching materials Evolution 101

Lesson summary for:
Breeding Bunnies

image

  - rated 2 times

To rate this resource, click a star:

Answer the security question:

2 + 6 =

Overview:
Students simulate breeding bunnies to show the impact that genetics can have on the evolution of a population of organisms.

Author/Source:
WGBH

Grade level:
9-12

Time:
One class period.

Teaching tips:
A rich class discussion will assist students in a deeper understanding of the concepts.

Concepts:

  • Evolution results from selection acting upon genetic variation within a population.

  • Traits that confer an advantage may persist in the population and are called adaptations.

  • Inherited characteristics affect the likelihood of an organism's survival and reproduction.

  • The amount of genetic variation within a population may affect the likelihood of survival of the population; the less the available diversity, the less likely the population will be able to survive environmental change.

  • Populations, not individuals, evolve.

  • Over time, the proportion of individuals with advantageous characteristics may increase (and the proportion with disadvantageous characteristics may decrease) due to their likelihood of surviving and reproducing.

  • There is variation within a population.

Teacher background:

Comment on this resource

Share how you used this resource in your classroom, suggestions for modifying it, and whether you liked using it.

Name (will be displayed with your comment):
Email (optional, will not be displayed):

I am ... (optional, will not be displayed)
 a K-12 teacher      a college teacher      a student      none of the above

Comment:

Security question: 2 + 1 =

 

<< Back to search results