ºÝºÝߣ

ºÝºÝߣShare a Scribd company logo

Mutations In a Population

•
•
D
dwinter1

This document discusses mutations in populations and how traits created by mutations may become more or less common over generations. It describes an activity using a simulation where students will investigate whether mutations can introduce non-adaptive fur traits into an ostrich population in a cold environment. The simulation allows students to observe the population over 50 generations with mutations turned on and analyze changes in fur traits, to see if low-fur traits introduced by mutation become more or less common. Key points emphasized are that mutations occur randomly, can create adaptive, non-adaptive or neutral traits, and adaptive traits will become more common while non-adaptive traits will become less common over time.

1 of 14
Downloaded 10 times
CHAPTER 3: MUTATION AND ADAPTIVE TRAITS 3.2: Mutations in a Population
3.2.1: WARM-UP Remember, the Sim from last lesson’s homework is a model of natural selection. Scientists sometimes use models to investigate changes to a population that they couldn’t actually make in real life. For example, up until this point when we’ve used the Sim, the Mutation toggle was always off. This meant mutations could not occur. You can’t actually turn off mutations in real populations because mutations happen randomly. Another way the Sim is different from the natural world is in its frequency of mutations. In the Sim, mutations happen pretty frequently so that you can learn how they impact populations. However, they happen much less often in real life.
3.2.1: WARM-UP
3.2.2: REREADING MUTATIONS In the last lesson, we read that new traits can become part of a population when mutations happen. Today, we are going to think about how these traits could become more common in a population over generations. You will reread the article you chose from Mutations to answer the new Investigation Question. As you read, focus on the trait that was introduced by a mutation and think about whether it became more or less common in the population over generations.
3.2.2: REREADING MUTATIONS Students read. Work with a partner who read the same article to answer these questions.
3.2.3: INVESTIGATING MUTANT FUR TRAITS IN THE SIM Students will investigate in the Sim whether traits created through mutation are always adaptive. (15 min) You will use the Sim to investigate an ostrilope population that only has a trait for low fur (Level 2) in a cold environment. You will see what happens when mutations are allowed to introduce new fur traits into the population. QUESTION: Will non-adaptive, low-fur traits be introduced through mutations? ANSWER HERE
3.2.3: INVESTIGATING MUTANT FUR TRAITS IN THE SIM You will be able to investigate in the Sim whether mutations can introduce non-adaptive traits into populations. Review the steps to complete the Sim activity and emphasize the fur-trait histograms.
3.2.3: INVESTIGATING MUTANT FUR TRAITS IN THE SIM Launch the Sim and load the Mutations and Traits mode.
3.2.3: INVESTIGATING MUTANT FUR TRAITS IN THE SIM Change the temperature of the environment to cold (Level 1) by moving the Temperature slider.
3.2.3: INVESTIGATING MUTANT FUR TRAITS IN THE SIM Turn ostrilope fur-trait mutations on by pressing the Ostrilope icon and pressing the Mutations toggle. •Press RUN and observe the population for at least 50 generations.
3.2.3: INVESTIGATING MUTANT FUR TRAITS IN THE SIM •Press ANALYZE and use the Generations slider to carefully observe new traits in the population.
3.2.3: INVESTIGATING MUTANT FUR TRAITS IN THE SIM Answer the Following based on the SIM
3.2.4: REFLECTION Work independently to complete the reflection. KEEP THIS CONCEPT IN MIND! •ALSO: •Mutations happen randomly; individuals can’t choose to have a mutant trait. •Mutations can create traits that can be adaptive, non-adaptive, or neutral depending on the environment. •If the mutant trait is adaptive it will become more common, if it is non-adaptive it will become less common. ANSWER THESE
3.2.5 READING AND RESPONDING TO SHERMAN •Read the story and answer the questions.

More Related Content

Mutations In a Population

  • 1. CHAPTER 3: MUTATION AND ADAPTIVE TRAITS 3.2: Mutations in a Population
  • 2. 3.2.1: WARM-UP Remember, the Sim from last lesson’s homework is a model of natural selection. Scientists sometimes use models to investigate changes to a population that they couldn’t actually make in real life. For example, up until this point when we’ve used the Sim, the Mutation toggle was always off. This meant mutations could not occur. You can’t actually turn off mutations in real populations because mutations happen randomly. Another way the Sim is different from the natural world is in its frequency of mutations. In the Sim, mutations happen pretty frequently so that you can learn how they impact populations. However, they happen much less often in real life.
  • 4. 3.2.2: REREADING MUTATIONS In the last lesson, we read that new traits can become part of a population when mutations happen. Today, we are going to think about how these traits could become more common in a population over generations. You will reread the article you chose from Mutations to answer the new Investigation Question. As you read, focus on the trait that was introduced by a mutation and think about whether it became more or less common in the population over generations.
  • 5. 3.2.2: REREADING MUTATIONS Students read. Work with a partner who read the same article to answer these questions.
  • 6. 3.2.3: INVESTIGATING MUTANT FUR TRAITS IN THE SIM Students will investigate in the Sim whether traits created through mutation are always adaptive. (15 min) You will use the Sim to investigate an ostrilope population that only has a trait for low fur (Level 2) in a cold environment. You will see what happens when mutations are allowed to introduce new fur traits into the population. QUESTION: Will non-adaptive, low-fur traits be introduced through mutations? ANSWER HERE
  • 7. 3.2.3: INVESTIGATING MUTANT FUR TRAITS IN THE SIM You will be able to investigate in the Sim whether mutations can introduce non-adaptive traits into populations. Review the steps to complete the Sim activity and emphasize the fur-trait histograms.
  • 8. 3.2.3: INVESTIGATING MUTANT FUR TRAITS IN THE SIM Launch the Sim and load the Mutations and Traits mode.
  • 9. 3.2.3: INVESTIGATING MUTANT FUR TRAITS IN THE SIM Change the temperature of the environment to cold (Level 1) by moving the Temperature slider.
  • 10. 3.2.3: INVESTIGATING MUTANT FUR TRAITS IN THE SIM Turn ostrilope fur-trait mutations on by pressing the Ostrilope icon and pressing the Mutations toggle. •Press RUN and observe the population for at least 50 generations.
  • 11. 3.2.3: INVESTIGATING MUTANT FUR TRAITS IN THE SIM •Press ANALYZE and use the Generations slider to carefully observe new traits in the population.
  • 12. 3.2.3: INVESTIGATING MUTANT FUR TRAITS IN THE SIM Answer the Following based on the SIM
  • 13. 3.2.4: REFLECTION Work independently to complete the reflection. KEEP THIS CONCEPT IN MIND! •ALSO: •Mutations happen randomly; individuals can’t choose to have a mutant trait. •Mutations can create traits that can be adaptive, non-adaptive, or neutral depending on the environment. •If the mutant trait is adaptive it will become more common, if it is non-adaptive it will become less common. ANSWER THESE
  • 14. 3.2.5 READING AND RESPONDING TO SHERMAN •Read the story and answer the questions.