Download SPECIATION LAB

SPECIATION LAB
Speciation is the process of forming a new species. In this lab, you will create a scenario or simulation that
would result in the formation of a new imaginary species. Remember, a species refers to a group of
organisms that breed with one another and produce fertile offspring.
Your project should contain the following information:
o In SECTION 1: Provide an overview or introduction of the scenario that resulted in
speciation.
o In SECTION 2: Details are needed on the following:
1) SECTION 2 A:
Describe the original scenario/setting prior to speciation occurring including
the following information:
a) Describe what the environment is like- e.g. Sea, ocean, desert, tundra,
field, etc.
b) What are its predators and prey? Name at least 1 of each.
c) List the abiotic and biotic factors of the environment. Provide at least 2
of each.
2) SECTION 2B:
Describe the ancestral organism BEFORE speciation occurred
a) Name the organism- scientific name and colloquial name

For the scientific name- each species name has two parts- the
genus name and the specific name or epithet which together
form the species name. For example, humans belong to genus
Homo and their specific name is sapiens. Humans as a species
are thus classified as Homo sapiens. The first letter of the first
name, the genus, is always capitalized, while that of the second
is not. Conventionally, all names of genera and lower taxa are
always italicized.

Provide a colloquial name- ex. human
b) What is the phenotype of the organism? (a drawing or a model is
sufficient. Otherwise describe its appearance)
c) Provide a sample of the genotype of the organism for the specific trait
that will be changed during speciation.
d) What is the allele frequencies for the specific trait that will change
during speciation?
e) Name one single gene trait and one polygenic trait in your organism.
Explain your selection.
f) Select the trait that will be affected by natural selection- state whether
it is polygenic or a single gene trait. Explain how this trait will change
as a result of natural selection (for polygenic: directional, stabilizing,
or disruptive selection; for single-gene trait: increase or decrease).
g) What were the sources of genetic variation that eventually lead to
speciation? Give a brief sentence of the consequence of this source of
variation on the organism.
h) Consider Hardy-Weinberg’s 5 conditions, do you think that in your
scenario that evolution would occur or would genetic equilibrium be
maintained? Explain why.
3) SECTION 2 C: Describe the new organism AFTER speciation occurred
a) Name the organism (scientific name and colloquial name).
b) What is the phenotype of the organism? (a drawing or a model is sufficient.
Otherwise describe its appearance)
c) What is the frequency of the alleles for the trait that changed during the
process of speciation?
4) SECTION 3: Isolating mechanism
What is the isolating mechanism (behavioral, temporal, and geographic) that
is keeping the 2 populations reproductively isolated? Explain how it operates
in your scenario.
Note
 You will be constructing a report based on the aforementioned information. Do not hesitate to use
your creativity but your creativity must NOT forgo logic. Type the information in a word document
according to the sections and labels used (follow the format of this handout with the appropriate
labels).
 You will complete this project as a group. Ensure that for each member, you specify their % of
involvement. Less than 100% involvement means that they will not receive the group grade but a %
of it. No participation means no grade awarded. If you are left to fend for yourself, do so and let me
know the culprits that will receive a “0”, but ultimately you are responsible for completing ALL
aspects of this project, regardless of group involvement.