LR267.5.1: Natural Selection and Mutations

Some traits help organisms survive better than other traits. A parrot's big beak can help it crack open tough nuts. This makes it more likely that the parrot will be well fed. Animals that can hide, like the moth in the picture below, are less likely to be eaten.

The colors of this moth's wings help it blend into its surroundings.

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Which bear's fur has a special trait that helps it survive in the arctic environment?

Which trait does the thistle have that keeps it from being eaten by many animals?

bright purple flowers

thorns under the flower

green leaves

deep roots

Check for Understanding:

1. Some traits help organisms get food more easily.
         Parrots have a large beak.
         Polar bears can sneak up on their prey.

2. Some traits make organisms less likely to be eaten.
         Fur color can help blend in to the environment.
         Thorns, spikes, or hand shells make it difficult to be eaten.

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Imagine two giraffes. One has a long neck and a longer tongue than the other. It can reach leaves higher in the tree. Which giraffe is more likely to eat more food.

Some traits help living things survive. Other traits make it more difficult for an organism to survive. Even within a single species, some individuals have traits that help them, and others have traits that make life more challenging.

These are both wallabies. The wallaby on the right has a trait of white fur. The white fur color makes it more difficult to hide from predators.

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Which are examples of traits that might be harmful for an organism?

One prairie dog has better eyesight than the other prairie dogs.

One panther is clumsier than other predators.

One mouse is slower than other mice.

One rattlesnake is faster than other rattlesnakes.

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Alligators do not have any natural predators. That means there are no animals that hunt and eat alligators. Will this all-white alligator’s colors still make it difficult for the animal to survive?

Yes, it will be more difficult for this alligator to survive.

No, it will not be more difficult for this alligator to survive.

Check for Understanding:

1. Some organisms have traits that help them.
      For example, one rattlesnake might be faster than other snakes, which helps it catch its prey more easily.

2. Other organisms have traits that hurt them.
        For example, one mouse might be slower than other mice, which would make it easier for predators to catch.

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Which is more likely to reproduce, or have more offspring?

an organism that has access to many resources

an organism that does not have access to many resources

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Which is more likely to reproduce, or have more offspring?

an organism that is NOT able to hide from predators or prey

an organism that is able to hide from predators or prey

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Organisms are__________likely to have more offspring if they have traits that help them get more resources or be able to hide.

Natural selection is the process where an organism with helpful traits is likely to have more offspring than an organism without helpful traits.

Armadillos, pill bugs, and tortoises all developed shells to keep them safe. For all three organisms, the hard shells are a useful trait that helps keep them alive. They developed the shells through the process of natural selection.

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Which trait or traits of this sea turtle were likely chosen through the process of natural selection?

ability to hold breath for a long time

hard shell

flippers

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Which organism is more likely to have more offspring?

Check for Understanding:

1. Natural selection happens when organisms with helpful traits have more offspring than those who do not have helpful traits.

2. The helpful traits get passed on to the future generations.

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Think of the long-necked giraffes. Imagine that the long-necked giraffes keep having more offspring than short-necked giraffes. Over thousands of years, what do you predict will happen to all giraffes?

All giraffes will have longer necks.

All giraffes will have shorter necks.

There will be no more giraffes.

The length of giraffes' necks will not change.

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Below is a sequence of events explaining how the polar bear got white fur. Put the events in the correct order.

more and more polar bears were born with white fur.
Polar bears with white fur had more offspring.
Polar bears with white fur survived better than polar bears with brown fur.
Today, almost all polar bears have white fur.
A few bears were born with white fur. They passed on that trait to their offspring.
Thousands of years ago, polar bears were brown.

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You already know that a giraffe's long neck is a helpful inherited trait. Imagine what a giraffe might have looked like thousands of years ago.

Giraffes did not look different thousands of years ago.

Check for Understanding:

1. Organisms with helpful traits pass their helpful traits onto their offspring.

2. Species can change over long periods of time as more and more individuals are born with the helpful traits.

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What is natural selection?

the process where organisms choose or select the traits that they will pass on to their offspring

the process where organisms pass on all their traits, both helpful and harmful, to their offspring

the process where organisms who have helpful traits are more likely to survive and reproduce than those that have harmful traits.

the process where organisms who have harmful traits are more likely to survive and reproduce than those that have helpful traits.

Check for Understanding:

Some traits help organisms survive and have more offspring.

Other traits make it more difficult for organisms to survive and reproduce.

Organisms with helpful traits pass those traits along to their offspring.

Over time, most members of the species will have the helpful trait, This process is called natural selection.

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Which is an example of a harmful inherited trait?

A tiger's stripes help it hide in the forests.

One ape is more likely to get sick than others.

An octopus can change its color to hide.

One eagle has better eyesight than others.

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Which of these is an example of a helpful inherited trait?

A fox that lives in the Arctic is born with white fur.

An octopus is born without one of its tentacles.

A bear that lives in the woods is born with white fur.

A mouse is born without eyes.

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Why might an organism with helpful traits pass the traits on to more of its offspring?

The trait always helps the organism eat more food.

The helpfulness of a trait does not decide if it gets passed on or not.

The trait might make it harder for other organisms to survive.

The trait might help the organism survive.

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Which inherited traits are most likely going to be passed on to more of the species?

Traits that help an organism have more offspring.

Traits that help an organism survive.

Traits that help an organism to die.

Traits that prevent the organism from having offspring.

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A few plants of a certain species have begun growing little thorns on their leaves. This makes animals less likely to eat those leaves. Predict what the plant species might look like in thousands of years.

The species will look the same as it does today.

The species' stems will be covered in thorns, but not its leaves.

None of the plants of the species will have thorny leaves.

All of the plants of the species will have thorny leaves.

Adaptations cannot happen without variation among a population of organisms. Variation is the difference in traits among members of the same species.

All of these kittens have different traits even though they are all of the same species. This difference in traits is called variation.

Variations happen in a population because of mutations. A mutation is a change in an organism's genes. When an organism's genes change, its traits can change as well. Mutations can happen before birth or during an organism's life.

Finch beaks come in many sizes and shapes. Mutations to the genes controlling beak size and shape caused these differences.

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A difference in traits among__________is called variation. Variation is caused by mutations, which are changes to an organism's__________.

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All three of these fish are members of the same species. What can you conclude about these fish? (choose 2)

These fish have different genes.

The variation in these fish was first caused by mutations.

There is no variation in this species.

These fish have the same genes.

Mutations can be good, bad, or neutral. Good mutations help an organism survive in its environment and can lead to adaptation.

This viper's poisonous venom is an adaptation that came from a good mutation.

Bad mutations can cause an organism to have a shorter life.

Sickle cell disease changes the shape of red blood cells and can lead to medical problems.

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How does a mutation change an organism? (choose 2)

A mutation is always good for an organism.

A mutation always changes an organism's genes.

A mutation can lead to a change in an organism's traits.

A mutation always affects an organism's traits.

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Categorize each of these traits as being caused by good, bad, or neutral mutations.

Put the steps of natural selection in order:

The faster deer live longer and reproduce more.
After many generations, all the deer run faster.
A deer's genes mutate so some can run faster.

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Natural selection says that the traits that help an organism survive __________.

will become more common after many generations

will go away because of mutations

cannot be passed on through genes

will become less common after many generations

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Use the pedigree chart to answer the question:

What is the genotype of person I-2

BB

Bb

B?

bb

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Use the pedigree chart to answer the question:

What is the genotype of person IV-4

Bb

bb

B?

BB

Required

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Use the pedigree chart to answer the question:

If person IV-1 and IV-3 what is the probability that their offspring will have the dominant trait?

50%

75%

25%

100%

LR267.5.1: Natural Selection and Mutations

Which trait does the thistle have that keeps it from being eaten by many animals?

Imagine two giraffes. One has a long neck and a longer tongue than the other. It can reach leaves higher in the tree. Which giraffe is more likely to eat more food.

Which are examples of traits that might be harmful for an organism?

Alligators do not have any natural predators. That means there are no animals that hunt and eat alligators. Will this all-white alligator’s colors still make it difficult for the animal to survive?

Which is more likely to reproduce, or have more offspring?

Which is more likely to reproduce, or have more offspring?

Which trait or traits of this sea turtle were likely chosen through the process of natural selection?

Which organism is more likely to have more offspring?

Think of the long-necked giraffes. Imagine that the long-necked giraffes keep having more offspring than short-necked giraffes. Over thousands of years, what do you predict will happen to all giraffes?

Below is a sequence of events explaining how the polar bear got white fur. Put the events in the correct order.

You already know that a giraffe's long neck is a helpful inherited trait. Imagine what a giraffe might have looked like thousands of years ago.

What is natural selection?

Which is an example of a harmful inherited trait?

Which of these is an example of a helpful inherited trait?

Why might an organism with helpful traits pass the traits on to more of its offspring?

Which inherited traits are most likely going to be passed on to more of the species?

A few plants of a certain species have begun growing little thorns on their leaves. This makes animals less likely to eat those leaves. Predict what the plant species might look like in thousands of years.

All three of these fish are members of the same species. What can you conclude about these fish? (choose 2)

How does a mutation change an organism? (choose 2)

Put the steps of natural selection in order:

Natural selection says that the traits that help an organism survive __________.

Use the pedigree chart to answer the question:What is the genotype of person I-2

Use the pedigree chart to answer the question:What is the genotype of person IV-4

Use the pedigree chart to answer the question:If person IV-1 and IV-3 what is the probability that their offspring will have the dominant trait?

Which trait does the thistle have that keeps it from being eaten by many animals?

Imagine two giraffes. One has a long neck and a longer tongue than the other. It can reach leaves higher in the tree. Which giraffe is more likely to eat more food.

Which are examples of traits that might be harmful for an organism?

Alligators do not have any natural predators. That means there are no animals that hunt and eat alligators. Will this all-white alligator’s colors still make it difficult for the animal to survive?

Which is more likely to reproduce, or have more offspring?

Which is more likely to reproduce, or have more offspring?

Which trait or traits of this sea turtle were likely chosen through the process of natural selection?

Which organism is more likely to have more offspring?

Think of the long-necked giraffes. Imagine that the long-necked giraffes keep having more offspring than short-necked giraffes. Over thousands of years, what do you predict will happen to all giraffes?

Below is a sequence of events explaining how the polar bear got white fur. Put the events in the correct order.

You already know that a giraffe's long neck is a helpful inherited trait. Imagine what a giraffe might have looked like thousands of years ago.

What is natural selection?

Which is an example of a harmful inherited trait?

Which of these is an example of a helpful inherited trait?

Why might an organism with helpful traits pass the traits on to more of its offspring?

Which inherited traits are most likely going to be passed on to more of the species?

A few plants of a certain species have begun growing little thorns on their leaves. This makes animals less likely to eat those leaves. Predict what the plant species might look like in thousands of years.

All three of these fish are members of the same species. What can you conclude about these fish? (choose 2)

How does a mutation change an organism? (choose 2)

Put the steps of natural selection in order:

Natural selection says that the traits that help an organism survive __________.

Use the pedigree chart to answer the question:What is the genotype of person I-2

Use the pedigree chart to answer the question:What is the genotype of person IV-4

Use the pedigree chart to answer the question:If person IV-1 and IV-3 what is the probability that their offspring will have the dominant trait?

Use the pedigree chart to answer the question:

What is the genotype of person I-2

Use the pedigree chart to answer the question:

What is the genotype of person IV-4

Use the pedigree chart to answer the question:

If person IV-1 and IV-3 what is the probability that their offspring will have the dominant trait?

Use the pedigree chart to answer the question:

What is the genotype of person I-2

Use the pedigree chart to answer the question:

What is the genotype of person IV-4

Use the pedigree chart to answer the question:

If person IV-1 and IV-3 what is the probability that their offspring will have the dominant trait?