Download Evolution_Performance_Task_2016

Name:
Date:
Evolution Performance Task
Artificial Selection vs. Natural Selection – Project & Research Organizer
Humans have an enormous impact on our surrounding environment. In many cases we shape the
evolution of species via a process we call artificial selection. You will investigate and research a common
species of your choosing and how humans have shaped its evolutionary path over time.
You will conduct research and organize your findings into a cohesive product.
You may choose to make a power point/google slides, poster, informational brochure, or formal
research document.
Along with your gathered research based on the following guiding questions, your final product
must include the following:
1. Image(s) or drawing(s) of your artificially selected species
2. Image(s) or drawing(s) of your species wild ancestors or closest relations
3. A cladogram or phylogenetic tree to illustrate your species and its ancestors
4. Image(s) or drawing(s) of human interaction with the species
5. Bibliography, listing the resources you used to gather your research
1. Chose a species that has undergone the
artificial selection process via human interaction.
Possible choices include: horses, cows, goldfish,
chickens, cats, rabbits, pigs, dogs, bananas,
tomatoes, carrots, corn, apples, etc.
3. What is the closest wild species or extinct
ancestor to your artificially selected species?
2. Are there multiple specific variations that have
been created? If so, list them.
4. Approximately how long ago did humans start using artificial selection to influence the evolution of
this species? What was their purpose for doing so? Did it fill some human need?
Name:
Date:
5. Describe in detail the traits of the origin species.
6. What traits where selected for? Why did humans choose to accentuate these traits?
7. What traits where selected against? Why did humans choose to remove or diminish these traits?
Name:
Date:
8. For traits to be heritable (passed from one generation to the next) they can come from a variety of
sources: (1) new genetic combinations through meiosis, (2) viable errors occurring during replication,
and/or (3) mutations caused by environmental factors. Is there any information on how the
manipulated traits of your species entered its population?
9. Do you think this artificially selected species could return to the wild and be able to survive and
reproduce successfully? Justify your answer.
10. Imagine you were starting with the original wild species. What naturally occurring characteristics
would you select for or against? Explain your reasoning.
Name:
Date:
List all resources and websites you used (suggestion: copy and paste URL’s here):
NGSS Project Standards
HS-LS3-2.
HS-LS4-1.
HS-LS4-5.
Make and defend a claim based on evidence that inheritable genetic variations may result from: (1)
new genetic combinations through meiosis, (2) viable errors occurring during replication, and/or (3)
mutations caused by environmental factors.
Communicate scientific information that common ancestry and biological evolution are supported by
multiple lines of empirical evidence.
Evaluate the evidence supporting claims that changes in environmental conditions may result in: (1)
increases in the number of individuals of some species, (2) the emergence of new species over time,
and (3) the extinction of other species.