Download Station 2: Genetic Drift

Mechanics of Evolution
Station 1: Variation within a species
1. What trends do you observe in the height of the population of people?
2. Why isn’t everyone the same height?
3. What other types of traits display variation?
Station 2: Genetic Drift
Beads
Red
Blue
Green
Yellow
Survivor
Beaker 1
Beaker 2
1. What kinds of events can drastically reduce a population?
2. How does genetic drift affect the gene pool of a population?
3. Does genetic drift affect large populations? Explain your answer.
Beaker 3
Station 3: Directional Selection on Polygenic Traits
Background
Uneaten Moths
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Average
Light Background
Light
Dark
Dark Background
Light
Dark
1. Which phenotype survived better on the light background? On the dark background?
2. If the amount of pollution decreased and the environment recovered, what effect would that have on the moth
phenotype?
Station 4: Genetic Equilibrium
1. How does the inheritance of the possible genotypes compare from generation to generation?
2. Has evolution of the population taken place? Explain your answer.
Station 5: Genetic Change over Generations
1. What type of natural selection is described in the reading about antibiotic resistant bacteria? (directional,
stabilizing, or disruptive)
2. Give examples of the other two types of natural selection?
Station 6: Succession
1. What kind of substrate do we begin with in primary succession?
2. What is the general term for organisms that are the first to enter a new terrain and begin the process of primary
succession?
3. What occurs between primary and secondary succession?
4. What kind of substrate do we begin with in secondary succession?
Station 7: Mimicry
1. All new traits are random mutations. Why would a random mutation for yellow spots on the passion vine leaves
continue on in the population?
2. Why would it be advantageous for the orchid to have reproductive parts that look like a female bee?