Download Changing of Gene Frequencies in Beetles

Name _____________________________________
Period _______
Changing of Gene Frequencies in Beetles:
Does a Change in Gene Frequency Cause Evolution? (15 points)
Beetle Population Excel Activity
Part 1. Calculating Gene Frequency in a Population
1. Get a bag of “beetles” from Ms. Lykens
2. Open the “Gene Frequency Simulation” file under class files
3. Count how many homozygous dominant, heterozygous, and homozygous
recessive organisms you have and record in # of Beetles for Year 1
4. Record the total beetles under Total
Hint: You can do this by counting all beetles or adding together the # of beetles
5. Calculate the gene frequency of the organism by one of the following methods:
a. Use a calculator to divide the # of Beetles by Total for each phenotype
b. Using excel language to calculate gene frequency by inputting =(# of Beetles/ Total) in gene
frequency box
Which genotype has the highest frequency in the population in year 1? What is this phenotype?
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Theoretically, what type of environment do you believe these beetles are living in based on the beetle that
has the highest fitness? (e.g brown soil, black volcanic rock, sand, etc.)
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What is the process called in which the phenotypes in a population are “selected” for based on the
surrounding environment? Hint: Think of last unit 
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Would the beetle population be able to evolve without mutations within the population? Explain using the
words allele, phenotype, and environment.
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Part 2. Changing Gene Frequency with Changing Environment
The environment in which the beetles live has changed from a rocky landscape to a
field full of wild flowers. Simulate how the gene frequencies have changed over the
next 1,500 years due to this selective pressure.
1.
The driving force of evolution is DNA mutation—pick a handful of a
“mutated” beetles from Ms. Lykens’ desk
2.
Record the new phenotype (red, yellow, or green) and the new genotype (Bb)
in your excel file below aa White in Year 1
3. Count the number of colored beetles and record here: __________
4. Follow the rules specific to the color of mutant beetle you received:
Red Beetles:
Red Beetles
Black Beetles
Brown Beetles
White Beetles
Yellow Beetles:
Yellow Beetles
Black Beetles
Brown Beetles
White Beetles
Year 500
Grew by 560 (add
to # you wrote in 3)
Grew by 75
Declined by 6
Declined by 10
Year 1,000
Grew by 555
Year 1,500
Grew by 600
Grew by 40
Declined by 9
Declined by 12
Grew by 34
Declined by 12
Declined by 16
Year 500
Grew by 545 (add
to # you wrote in 3)
Grew by 30
Declined by 4
Declined by 15
Year 1,000
Grew by 590
Year 1,500
Grew by 612
Grew by 20
Declined by 10
Declined by 20
Declined by 2
Declined by 11
Declined by 30
Year 500
Grew by 512 (add
to # you wrote in 3)
Grew by 66
Declined by 7
Declined by 11
Year 1,000
Grew by 553
Year 1,500
Grew by 630
Grew by 2
Declined by 11
Declined by 12
Declined by 20
Declined by 20
Declined by 20
Green Beetles:
Green Beetles
Black Beetles
Brown Beetles
White Beetles
5. Record the total for each box under Total
Hint: You can do so using a calculator or excel language by inputting =(SUM(click boxes))
6. Calculate the gene frequency of the organism for each year by one of the following methods:
a. Use a calculator to divide the # of Beetles by Total for each phenotype
b. Using excel language to calculate gene frequency =(# of Beetles/ Total)
Which genotype/phenotype is the most common in the population after 1,500 years? ___________________
What genotypes/phenotypes are still present in the population? ______________
Explain why at 1,500 years the mutant beetle has the highest gene frequency in the population.
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What happened to the original beetle genes in the population over 1,500 years?
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How did the genotypic makeup of this population change over the past 1,500 years? Use the words allele
and phenotype in your explanation.
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In nature, what do you think will happened to the black, brown, and white beetles as the red/green/yellow
continue to survive and reproduce?
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Check Point: Get Ms. Lykens’ signature ______________
Part 3. Graphing Gene Frequency
Once you complete parts 1 and 2, you should see a graph on your excel spread sheet. This graph is not
complete.
1. Add an x and y axis title to the graph by
a. Click on graph
b. Click the plus sign in the top right hand corner
c. Check Axis Titles
d. Determine which titles to put in the axis
2. Add a title to the graph
a. Click on graph
b. Click the plus sign in the top right hand corner
c. Check Chart Title
d. Determine which titles to on your graph using the following outline:
Chart Title
Your Name, Period ___
3. Print your graph to printer 11 (see board for instructions)