Understanding Evolution

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Population genetics, selection, and evolution

Grade Level(s):

  • 13-16

Source:

  • Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Resource type:

  • Classroom activity

Time: Two to three 50-minute class periods

Overview

This hands-on activity, used in conjunction with a short film, teaches students about population genetics, the Hardy-Weinberg principle, and how natural selection alters the frequency distribution of heritable traits. It

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  • [Evidence of evolution: Grades 13-16] There is a fit between organisms and their environments, though not always a perfect fit.
  • [Mechanisms of evolution: Grades 13-16] Evolution is often defined as a change in allele frequencies within a population.
  • [Mechanisms of evolution: Grades 13-16] The Hardy-Weinberg equation describes expectations about the gene pool of a population that isn't evolving, that is large, mates randomly, doesn't experience mutation, natural selection, or gene flow.
  • [Mechanisms of evolution: Grades 13-16] Evolution results from natural selection acting upon genetic variation within a population.
  • [Mechanisms of evolution: Grades 13-16] Natural selection and genetic drift act on the variation that exists in a population.
  • [Mechanisms of evolution: Grades 13-16] Natural selection acts on phenotype as an expression of genotype.
  • [Mechanisms of evolution: Grades 13-16] Inherited characteristics affect the likelihood of an organism's survival and reproduction.
  • [Mechanisms of evolution: Grades 13-16] Over time, the proportion of individuals with advantageous traits may increase (and the proportion with disadvantageous traits may decrease) due to their chances of surviving and reproducing.
  • [Mechanisms of evolution: Grades 13-16] Depending on environmental conditions, inherited characteristics may be advantageous, neutral, or detrimental.
  • [Mechanisms of evolution: Grades 13-16] Natural selection can act on the variation in a population in different ways.
  • [Mechanisms of evolution: Grades 13-16] Natural selection sometimes favors heterozygotes over homozygotes at a locus.
  • [Studying evolution: Grades 13-16] As with other scientific disciplines, evolutionary biology has applications that factor into everyday life, for example in agriculture, biodiversity and conservation biology, and medicine and health.

There are no NGSS/DCI concepts currently linked to this resource.

To do the activity in only two class periods, you can assign one section of the activity as homework. However, answers to the worksheet are readily available online, so if this is a concern, you may wish to do the activity in class.