Introduction to Natural Selection

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Based on the video above, with what part of their body do crickets make their chirping sound?

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Why do you think crickets chirp? What is the benefit?

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In Kauai, some male crickets can chirp, others can't. Make a claim to answer the question: Which type of cricket is more successful at surviving and reproducing?

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Explain why you selected the answer you did in question 3.

At this point type in the chat letting me know you are done through question 4. We will read the comic below as a class. Click the link to follow along. In the mean time while you wait check out this video: https://youtu.be/9cbZmOvRySk 

https://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/0_0_0/sneakermales_01 

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Refer back to the claim you selected in question 3. Based on the evidence in the comic, do you still stick with your initial claim?

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After reading the comic, make a claim to answer the question: Which type of cricket is more successful at surviving and reproducing? (this may be the same as you chose in question 3 or different- either way select an option here)

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Find evidence in the comic strip to support the claim you selected above. Be sure to list the frame # in which you found each piece of evidence.

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This is kind of a true story! In Kauai, a scientist who studied there found that suddenly one summer the crickets were far quieter than in the past. A mutation had occured in the DNA of some crickets causing them to be silent. Mutations that are beneficial will be passed on to future generations and increase in existence, those not beneficial will not be passed on in such great amounts.

Most crickets in Kauai are silent, why do you think this silent mutation is beneficial?

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The comic is supposed to model the idea of natural selection, the idea that individuals with traits favorable for the environment will survive and reproduce and pass their traits to the next generation. Natural selection leads to adaptations, that is, a population dominated by organisms that are anatomically, behaviorally, and physiologically well suited to survive and reproduce in a specific environment. Based on this information, in the model below, what trait would be an adaptation?

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Explain your answer to question 8. Why is the trait you selected an adaptation for mice? Note: Adaptations are any inherited structure, behavior, or internal process that enables an organism to respond to environmental factors and survive and reproduce.

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On a concert stage who would you consider to be more fit?

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At a science olympiad competition who would be most fit?

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In a basketball game who would be most fit?

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Natural selection is often explained as "survival of the fittest" - based on your answers above....which of the following do you think is the best definition for fitness in this context?

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Based on the video above, with what part of their body do crickets make their chirping sound?

Why do you think crickets chirp? What is the benefit?

In Kauai, some male crickets can chirp, others can't. Make a claim to answer the question: Which type of cricket is more successful at surviving and reproducing?

Explain why you selected the answer you did in question 3.

Refer back to the claim you selected in question 3. Based on the evidence in the comic, do you still stick with your initial claim?

After reading the comic, make a claim to answer the question: Which type of cricket is more successful at surviving and reproducing? (this may be the same as you chose in question 3 or different- either way select an option here)

Find evidence in the comic strip to support the claim you selected above. Be sure to list the frame # in which you found each piece of evidence.

Explain your answer to question 8. Why is the trait you selected an adaptation for mice? Note: Adaptations are any inherited structure, behavior, or internal process that enables an organism to respond to environmental factors and survive and reproduce.

On a concert stage who would you consider to be more fit?

At a science olympiad competition who would be most fit?

In a basketball game who would be most fit?

Natural selection is often explained as "survival of the fittest" - based on your answers above....which of the following do you think is the best definition for fitness in this context?

Based on your answers to questions 11-13, is it possible for an organism to be fit in some environments and not others?