What This Document Is
This document is a student exploration worksheet designed to accompany the “Microevolution” Gizmo, an interactive simulation from ExploreLearning. It focuses on how allele frequencies within a population change over time—a core concept in evolutionary biology. The worksheet guides students through a series of observations and predictions using the Gizmo, prompting them to analyze the impact of natural selection on parrot populations with varying feather colors.
Why This Document Matters
This study guide is intended for students enrolled in General Biology (BIOL 101C) at Cypress College. It serves as a structured activity to reinforce understanding of microevolutionary processes, specifically how environmental pressures (predation) affect genetic variation. It’s typically used during lab sessions or as a homework assignment to complement lecture material. Understanding these principles is foundational for grasping broader evolutionary concepts.
Common Limitations or Challenges
This worksheet *does not* independently teach the concepts of microevolution. It requires active engagement with the Microevolution Gizmo itself. It also doesn’t provide comprehensive explanations of genetics or evolutionary theory beyond what’s needed to interact with the simulation. Students will still need to refer to their textbook and lecture notes for a complete understanding. This preview does not include the full data tables or allele/genotype graphs generated within the Gizmo.
What This Document Provides
The full document includes:
* Prior Knowledge Questions to assess initial understanding of sickle cell anemia and malaria.
* Step-by-step instructions for using the Microevolution Gizmo.
* Guided questions and prompts to analyze the effects of different fitness levels on parrot populations.
* Data tables for recording observations of hawk predation and changes in genotype populations over multiple generations.
* Questions designed to interpret allele and genotype graphs generated by the Gizmo.
* Vocabulary definitions related to microevolution (allele, fitness, genotype, etc.).
This preview only provides a selection of the initial questions and introductory text. It does not include the full set of data collection tables, analysis questions, or the complete Gizmo instructions.
