BIO1302 PhET Natural Selection Lab For this assignment, you will explore a simulation program on natural selection, collect data, and complete a worksheet on your findings linked below. Simulation Interaction

BIO1302 PhET Natural Selection Lab

For this assignment, you will explore a simulation program on natural selection, collect data, and complete a worksheet on your findings linked below.

Simulation Interaction

1. Access the PhET Natural Selection Lab.
2. Go to the Intro section. Explore and play around. Take note of what kind of data is available to you. What variables can you change and adjust?
3. The simulation starts off with only one bunny.
4. Press the blue play button at the bottom right of the screen if you do not see the one bunny hopping, then add a mate. The simulation will start running. Observe what’s happening. You should see the population numbers being charted in the graph as each generation passes.

TIPS:

• Pressing and holding the fast-forward button will speed up the process.
• You can adjust the scale of the Y-axis [Population] by pressing the + and – buttons as the populations grow.
• Click the arrows on either side of Generations on the X-axis to move the graph back and forth as needed.
• Uncheck “Total” or any other characteristics in the white box under the bunnies to better see lines on the graph if needed.
• Use the Data Probe option to slide across the X-axis to view specific population numbers for each generation.
• Observe the changes taking place from one generation to the next. Let the simulation run for at least 6 generations. Note what happens in generation 6.
• Try the simulation with only bunnies, unlimited food, and no mutations (only white bunnies are present). Then try it with bunnies, wolves, unlimited food, and no mutations (add the wolves in generation 4). How do the results differ between the two scenarios? What does this tell you about the effects of predators on prey populations when food is not limited?

Environmental Factors and Genetics – Click “Lab” in the black bar at the bottom of the page to complete all the simulations listed below. Following the instructions, run the simulation for each of the three scenarios given.

1. Limited food + fur color mutation
2. You will now change abiotic and biotic environmental factors to view population responses.
3. Press the orange start over button on the bottom right. Select the Brown Fur mutation (i.e., click the brown fur under “Recessive” on the top right of the screen) and check the Limited Food box.
4. Add a mate.
5. Run for 10 generations.
6. Record the number of white (dominant) and brown (recessive) bunnies at the start of each generation on a sheet of paper or in a spreadsheet like Excel. Remember to click the Data Probe box. Once the 10 generations have run, drag the Data Probe along the graph from one generation to the next, entering the number of bunnies for each generation. To get the best count for each generation, slide the data probe just past the generation number. White bunnies will show up as a solid green line; brown bunnies are a dotted green line.
7. How do the results differ between the two bunny fur color mutations with limited food over time?
8. Limited food + fur color mutation + wolves
9. Press the orange start over button on the bottom right of the screen to start a new simulation.
10. Select the Brown Fur mutation (recessive) and check the Limited Food box.
11. Add a mate.
12. After 4 generations, check the Wolves box.
13. Run to 10 generations.
14. Record the number of white and brown bunnies at the start of each generation.
15. Repeat this scenario but run the simulation for 20 generations. Pay close attention to what happens to the bunny populations at generations 9 and 12.
16. Optional: Vary the background environment where bunnies live by clicking the sun (desert, brown substrate) and snowflake (arctic, white substrate) icons on the top right of the bunny generation screen. What do your results tell you about prey apparency and predation in differing environments? How does fur color affect population structure on different substrates with respect to wolf predation?
17. Tough food + fur color mutation + tooth mutation
18. Press the orange start over button on the bottom right of the screen to start a new simulation.
19. Select the Brown Fur mutation (recessive) and Teeth mutation (recessive).
20. Add a mate.
21. After 4 generations, check the Tough Food box.
22. Run for 10 generations.
23. Record the number of white and brown bunnies and tooth mutations at the start of each generation. How do the numbers of different bunny mutations and combinations differ after 10 generations?
24. Repeat this scenario but run the simulation for 20 generations. What did you learn from the longer simulation that you may not have seen in 10 generations?

Deliverable: Open the BIO 1302 Unit VI PheT Natural Selection Lab Worksheet. You will answer four questions concerning the data generated by the simulation scenarios. Each written response should be at least 100 words each.