Natural Selection Lab- PhET Simulation

Pre-Lab Questions
1. What variables can you influence in this lab? phenotypic, environmental, and selection factors.

2. Define what a genetic mutation is. a change to a gene's DNA sequence to produce something different

3. What selection factors might effect an animal population besides the ones used in this lab?

climate, water, and competition.

Using the Simulation

1. Log onto your computer and go to http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/natural-selection Once this page
loads, click on the “run now” button under the picture of the simulation.

2. Take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with how the simulation software works. Be sure to notice the
following:

The population graph under the environment. This is where you will get the number of each type
of rabbit. You can zoom in or out to get a more accurate reading of population size.

The generation bar, play, and pause buttons. These give you a time before each breeding
period. The pause button allows you to stop the simulation so you can read the graph and take
your data.

3. When you are ready to start your first experiment make sure the environment is set to “equator” then click on
the “add a friend” button in the lower left hand corner of the environment. This will start the
simulation. Watch the generation bar and let it run twice, then hit pause. Record the data from the
graph for generation two in data table.

4. Once you’ve recorded the data, click on “Brown fur” in the add mutation section of the simulator. Using the
edit genes section of the simulator change brown fur to a recessive trait.

5. Start the simulation and let it run for two more generations. At this point pause the simulation and use the
graph to fill in generation 4 data in the data table.

6. Now add wolves as a selection factor and start the simulation. Let the simulation run for three more
generations. Hit pause and collect the data for generation 7 in the data table.

7. Click play and let the simulation run for three more generations. Pause the simulation and record the data
for generation 10 in the data table.

Designing The Experiment

In this Activity, you will be controlling the mutations and environment of a population of rabbits. You will create
three hypotheses and design an experiment to test each one. Your hypothesis will follow the format where you
fill in the (...) with your own ideas and reasons.
I hypothesize that (select a rabbit phenotype)  rabbits will be (more/ less) likely to survive under (type
of selective factor) within the (select type of environment) environment, because..... (explain how their
trait will help them to survive or not)

     ***You must make at least one hypothesis for each of the three different types of phenotype mutations***

You need to run the simulation twice for each experiment: once as a control without the variable applied and
once with the variable applied.

Experiment 1
Hypothesis: I hypothesize that a long tooth rabbit will be more likely to survive better under limited food than
short teeth rabbits

Data
Phenotype Selective Factor CONTROL Group CONTROL Group Experment Group Experiment Group
Initial Population at F3 Final Population Initial Population at F3 Final Population

White, long teeth 2 4 7 70

long
teeth

Short Short teeth 2 2 9 10

teeth
Conclusion (did the experiment support your hypothesis):

Yes

Experiment 2
Hypothesis:
Brown fur rabbits with long teeth and thick fur will survive better in the cold

Data
Phenotype Selective Factor CONTROL Group CONTROL Group Experment Group Experiment Group
Initial Population at F3 Final Population Initial Population at F3 Final Population

Brown cold 2 20 30 90
fur, thick
fur, long
teeth
 White cold 2 5 10 20
fur, thin
fur, short
teeth
Conclusion (did the experiment support your hypothesis): Yes
Experiment 3
Hypothesis:

Rabbits with long teeth and straight years survive better with wolves

Data
Phenotype Selective Factor CONTROL Group CONTROL Group Experment Group Experiment Group
Initial Population at F3 Final Population Initial Population at F3 Final Population

Long wolves 2 20 25 60
teeth
and
straight
ears

Short wolves 2 5 10 25
teeth
and
floppy
ears
Conclusion (did the experiment support your hypothesis):
Yes

Post-Lab Questions
1. Based upon your evidence from the simulation what conclusion are you able to make about each of the
three different types of phenotypes in rabbits?

Each one of them are affected by different things

2. How does this simulation mimic natural selection? In what ways does this simulation fail to represent the
process of natural selection? This simulation mimics natural selection by showing how different types of
organisms are affected by different things, it fails to represent natural selection by giving little options of
change.
Extension- Changing the Dominance and Recessive Alleles
Take one of the experiments from the lab. Recreate the same experiment,
EXCEPT when you add the mutation EDIT THE GENES by switching the
dominant and recessive allele for that trait. Make a hypothesis, fill in the chart
again and compare the results to your initial experiment.

Hypothesis:

Data

Phenotype Selective Factor CONTROL Group CONTROL Group Experment Group Experiment Group
Initial Population at F3 Final Population Initial Population at F3 Final Population

cold 2 10 39 56

hot 2 15 40 76
Conclusion (did the experiment support your hypothesis) no

1. Did switching the alleles for dominant and recessive have any impact on the population of rabbits? If so
Why? In nothing changed Why not? Because there are dominant alleles and recessive allele

The switching of alleles for dominant an recessive don't have impact on the population of rabbit

2. Two parent rabbits are both heterozygous for the trait. Create Punnet squares for the original experiment
and the new experiment (with the changed alleles). What are the phenotype ratios of the Punnet
squares? Does this evidence support your finding? and how?
9.9.1

3. If this new experiment were to run longer would the end result be the same or different from the original
experiment? The end result would be different
Extension- Working with Pedigrees- Switch from the population chart to the pedigree chart
Begin by adding a friend and a mutation. Wait until the F5
generation. Copy the Pedigree for two rabbits (described
below) using the key. Assume that male rabbits are on the
left and female rabbits are on the right.

Find these two rabbits, make sure they have at least four generations and copy the pedigree:
1. Select a rabbit that has the mutation.

2. Select a rabbit without the mutation but with parents or grandparent with the mutation.

Answer the following questions:

1. How could using a pedigree be helpful? By showing genetic connection

2. What does it mean to have a yellow triangle above the rabbit? the rapid the rabbit could be a mutated one

3. What does it mean when a rabbit has a red X over it? It died

4. How accurate are the pedigrees used in this lab? Did each couple only have one baby? Pretty accurate,
some couples had more than one baby.