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Viruses and Host Evolution

Grade Level(s):

  • 9-12

Source:

  • Chamberlain, Don

Resource type:

  • Classroom activity

Time: Four class periods

Overview

Students learn about natural selection in rabbits by observing the effects of a virus on the Australian rabbit population.

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  • [Mechanisms of evolution: Grades 9-12] Evolution results from selection acting upon genetic variation within a population. (LS4.B)
  • [Mechanisms of evolution: Grades 9-12] Inherited characteristics affect the likelihood of an organism's survival and reproduction. (LS4.B, LS4.C)
  • [Mechanisms of evolution: Grades 9-12] Over time, the proportion of individuals with advantageous characteristics may increase due to their likelihood of surviving and reproducing. (LS4.B, LS4.C)
  • [Mechanisms of evolution: Grades 9-12] Speciation is the splitting of one ancestral lineage into two or more descendant lineages.
  • [Studying evolution: Grades 9-12] As with other scientific disciplines, evolutionary biology has applications that factor into everyday life.
  • Disciplinary Core Idea LS4.B: Natural Selection
  • Disciplinary Core Idea LS4.C: Adaptation

This activity assumes that students have received information about viral structure, the viral replication cycle, differences between RNA and DNA viruses, and some effects of viruses on living tissues.