NATURAL

 SELECTION  VIRTUAL  LAB  

STEP  1:  Go  to  the  following  website:  https://glencoe.mheducation.com/sites/dl/free/0078802849/383939/BL_12.html

 HOW  DOES  NATURAL  SELECTION  AFFECT  ALLELIC  FREQUENCIES?  

STEP  2:  *Refer  to  the  information  on  the  left  column  to  answer  the  questions  below.  

1. What  evolutionary  mechanism  are  you  simulating  in  this  online  lab?
2. This  simulation  is  investigating  the  effect  of  ___________on  certain  phenotypes.

3. By  placing  pressure  on  these  specific  phenotypes,  what  will  change?

4. What  can  natural  selection  alter  in  a  population’s  gene  pool  over  time?

5. So  how  can  evolution  be  described  when  referring  to  changes  in  gene  pools?

6. What  can  these  changes  of  genes  lead  to  the  evolution  of?

7. What  alleles  are  we  using  in  this  simutation?

8. These  alleles  show  INCOMPLETE  DOMINANCE.  Define  incomplete  dominance  below:

9. List  the  phenotypes  for  the  following  alleles:

AA  
Aa  
aa  

10. Each  variation  of  a  trait  may  increase  or  decrease  the  organism’s  survival  in  an  environment.  However,  are  all
phenotypic  traits  visible?  List  an  example.

STEP  2:  *Refer  to  the  procedure  for  instructions.  Fill  out  the  data  tables  below  for  each  generation  and  for  each  
environment:  

ROCKY  ENVIRONMENT:  MAKE  SURE  ALLELE  FREQUENCIES  ARE  A  =  .5  AND  a  =  .5  

GENERATIONS:   NUMBER  OF  INDIVIDUALS  BEFORE  AND  AFTER  NATURAL  SELECTION:  

Genotype   Genotype   Genotype   Genotype   Genotype   Genotype  
AA   AA   Aa   Aa   aa   aa  
BEFORE   AFTER   BEFORE   AFTER   BEFORE   AFTER  
1  

2  

3  

4  

5  
 2  
DESERT  ENVIRONMENT:  MAKE  SURE  ALLELE  FREQUENCIES  ARE  A  =  .5  AND  a  =  .5  

GENERATIONS:   NUMBER  OF  INDIVIDUALS  BEFORE  AND  AFTER  NATURAL  SELECTION:  

Genotype   Genotype   Genotype   Genotype   Genotype   Genotype  

AA   AA   Aa   Aa   aa   aa  
BEFORE   AFTER   BEFORE   AFTER   BEFORE   AFTER  
1  

2  

3  

4  

5  

GRASSLAND  ENVIRONMENT:  MAKE  SURE  ALLELE  FREQUENCIES  ARE  A  =  .5  AND  a  =  .5  

GENERATIONS:   NUMBER  OF  INDIVIDUALS  BEFORE  AND  AFTER  NATURAL  SELECTION:  

Genotype   Genotype   Genotype   Genotype   Genotype   Genotype  
AA   AA   Aa   Aa   aa   aa  
BEFORE   AFTER   BEFORE   AFTER   BEFORE   AFTER  
1  

2  

3  

4  

5  

URBAN  ENVIRONMENT:  MAKE  SURE  ALLELE  FREQUENCIES  ARE  A  =  .5  AND  a  =  .5  

GENERATIONS:   NUMBER  OF  INDIVIDUALS  BEFORE  AND  AFTER  NATURAL  SELECTION:  

Genotype   Genotype   Genotype   Genotype   Genotype   Genotype  

AA   AA   Aa   Aa   aa   aa  
BEFORE   AFTER   BEFORE   AFTER   BEFORE   AFTER  
1  

2  

3  

4  

5  
 3  
Step  3:  ANSWER  POST  LAB  QUESTIONS  USING  YOUR  DATA:  

1. Did  either  allele  A  or  a  disappear  from  the  following  populations  you  studied?  Why  or  why  not?

è Rocky  Environment:

è Desert  Environment:

è Grassland  Environment:

è Urban  Environment:

2. A  population  in  which  the  frequency  of  alleles  remains  the  same  over  generations  is  said  to  be  in  genetic
equilibrium.  Describe  one  mechanism  by  which  a  populations'  genetic  equilibrium  can  be  disrupted  and  result
in  the  process  of  evolution.  *HINT:  It  is  what  this  lab  is  simulating*.

3. In  which  of  the  simulated  environments  do  individuals  of  the  genotype  Aa  survive  best?

4. In  which  of  the  simulated  environments  do  individuals  of  the  genotype  aa  survive  best?

5. Which  set  of  data  represents  a  type  of  natural  selection  that  stabilizes  the  allele  frequencies  of  the
population?