Download Mutant Dinosaur - SI Earth Scien

Mutant Dinosaur
(Copy or answer into your notebook all of the topics with a * by it.)
*Introduction: A dinosaur is born with a new genetic mutation. Your job is to map
out the genes that were influenced by the mutation and to discover how the new dinosaur
interacted with the environment using principles of evolution.
Order of Progress:
Draw original dinosaur
Dinosaur genetics answer sheet
Draw evolved dinosaur
Dinosaur habitat answer sheet
Dinosaur speciation answer sheet
Short answer questions
Drawings: You are going to draw how a dinosaur evolved to form a new species. You
will draw one picture of an original dinosaur and one of the new dinosaur species. The
mutation must leave some form of fossil evidence. Label the mutated parts and make the
draws detailed.
Short Answer Questions
Answer each question using as much detail and evidence as possible. Use
complete sentences and thoughts.
1. Explain how variation within a species increases the species chance to survive when
the environment changes.
2. Could you use the two drawings to show evidence on how one specie is related to
another specie? Explain how fossils can be used to demonstrate episodic speciation.
3. Explain how natural selection acts on a phenotype and not the genotype of your
dinosaur.
4. If a group of the same mutated dinosaurs were geographically isolated on an island
from their own specie on the mainland, then explain how isolation may lead to a new
species.
5. The group of dinosaurs in question four demonstrates an example of the founder
effect. Explain how genetic drift may occur when a small group of individuals colonizes
a new habitat.
6. Pretend all the dinosaurs in this class make up a small community on an island.
Explain why a large number of different species increases the chance that at least some
dinosaurs survive major changes in the environment on the island.