Practical 8 Natural Selection
LYDIA BEREHE
The Natural Selection of Bunny Simulation Practical 8, March 2014
Introduction
Background information
Charles Darwin discovered and developed this evolutionary mechanism called natural selection. It basically stated that if there existed variation in population there would be a struggle of survival. Darwin meant that those traits that were the most fit would be passed on to the next generation more often.
Charles Darwin’s experiment was not 100% accurate. His definition of mechanism of evolution was quiet accurate but two major factors were missing.
1. He knew little about the factor causing the variation that he saw in nature
2. He could not explain how variations were passed from parents to offspring
A discovery of the DNA in 1953 would change the way science studied evolution. Now, science knew that it was DNA that caused the variation seen in nature and DNA that caused those traits to be passed from parent to offspring.
Purpose of experiment
We will be studying how mutations in the DNA of an organism can lead directly to the evolution of the population it is a part of. This will be done by tracking how allele frequency is dependent upon the core principles of natural selection.
Pre simulation
Mutation is a change in DNA. An organism’s DNA affects all aspects of its life.
An Allele is an alternative form of a gene (one member of a pair) that is located at a specific position on a specific chromosome.
Allele frequency is a measurement that determines how frequent the allele expression of a particular gene arises in a population.
In your own words explain how you think DNA, mutation, genotype, phenotype and natural selection interconnect to cause evolution.
Variation in traits, differential reproduction and heredity all construct to evolution with an outcome of natural selection.
Material
The simulation software ‘’The Natural Selection Bunny Simulation
The Natural Selection of Bunny Simulation Practical 8, March 2014
Introduction
Background information
Charles Darwin discovered and developed this evolutionary mechanism called natural selection. It basically stated that if there existed variation in population there would be a struggle of survival. Darwin meant that those traits that were the most fit would be passed on to the next generation more often.
Charles Darwin’s experiment was not 100% accurate. His definition of mechanism of evolution was quiet accurate but two major factors were missing.
1. He knew little about the factor causing the variation that he saw in nature
2. He could not explain how variations were passed from parents to offspring
A discovery of the DNA in 1953 would change the way science studied evolution. Now, science knew that it was DNA that caused the variation seen in nature and DNA that caused those traits to be passed from parent to offspring.
Purpose of experiment
We will be studying how mutations in the DNA of an organism can lead directly to the evolution of the population it is a part of. This will be done by tracking how allele frequency is dependent upon the core principles of natural selection.
Pre simulation
Mutation is a change in DNA. An organism’s DNA affects all aspects of its life.
An Allele is an alternative form of a gene (one member of a pair) that is located at a specific position on a specific chromosome.
Allele frequency is a measurement that determines how frequent the allele expression of a particular gene arises in a population.
In your own words explain how you think DNA, mutation, genotype, phenotype and natural selection interconnect to cause evolution.
Variation in traits, differential reproduction and heredity all construct to evolution with an outcome of natural selection.
Material
The simulation software ‘’The Natural Selection Bunny Simulation