Evolution Unit Projects
This unit has brought three major projects: The Timeline Project, The Cladorgram Project and the PCR Lab. Each project brought way to learn more about evolution how the organisms we see today came to be.
Concepts to Know
Adaptation:
The adjustment or changes in behavior, physiology, and structure of an organism to become more suited to an environment. .
DNA:
Deoxyribonucleic acid. A large biological molecule composed of subunits known as nucleotides strung together in long chains.
RNA:
Ribonucleic acid. A molecule related to DNA that consists of nucleotide subunits strung together in chains.
Evolution:
Evolution consists of changes in the heritable traits of a population of organisms as successive generations replace one another. It is populations of organisms that evolve, not individual organisms.
Mutation:
A change in the sequence of one or more nucleotides in DNA. Random.
Natural selection:
Differential survival and reproduction of organisms as a consequence of the characteristics of the environment.
Selective breeding:
The intentional breeding of organisms with desirable traits in an attempt to produce offspring with enhanced characteristics or traits that humans consider desirable.
Speciation:
The evolutionary processes through which new species arise from existing species.
Survival of the fittest:
A term that refers to the survival of only those organisms best able (fittest) to obtain and utilize resources, resulting in the evolution of organisms that are best adapted to the environment and are able to pass on their genes.
Allopatric Speciation:
the creation of a new species from the lack of genetic exchange.
Sympatric Speciation:
One species that evolves into two separate species in the same area.
Reproductive Isolation:
Different species that live in the same area but are unable to exchange genetic information.
Behavior Isolation:
Different behaviors cause a species to separate.
Temporal Isolation:
Two species that mate at separate times of the yearn so they are unable to exchange genetic information.
Fouders Effect:
When a small group of a species separate and create a new species in a separate area to the original population.
Genetic Drift:
Variation of a small population based on genetic mutation and chance
Timeline Project
Concepts to Know
Adaptation:
The adjustment or changes in behavior, physiology, and structure of an organism to become more suited to an environment. .
DNA:
Deoxyribonucleic acid. A large biological molecule composed of subunits known as nucleotides strung together in long chains.
RNA:
Ribonucleic acid. A molecule related to DNA that consists of nucleotide subunits strung together in chains.
Evolution:
Evolution consists of changes in the heritable traits of a population of organisms as successive generations replace one another. It is populations of organisms that evolve, not individual organisms.
Mutation:
A change in the sequence of one or more nucleotides in DNA. Random.
Natural selection:
Differential survival and reproduction of organisms as a consequence of the characteristics of the environment.
Selective breeding:
The intentional breeding of organisms with desirable traits in an attempt to produce offspring with enhanced characteristics or traits that humans consider desirable.
Speciation:
The evolutionary processes through which new species arise from existing species.
Survival of the fittest:
A term that refers to the survival of only those organisms best able (fittest) to obtain and utilize resources, resulting in the evolution of organisms that are best adapted to the environment and are able to pass on their genes.
Allopatric Speciation:
the creation of a new species from the lack of genetic exchange.
Sympatric Speciation:
One species that evolves into two separate species in the same area.
Reproductive Isolation:
Different species that live in the same area but are unable to exchange genetic information.
Behavior Isolation:
Different behaviors cause a species to separate.
Temporal Isolation:
Two species that mate at separate times of the yearn so they are unable to exchange genetic information.
Fouders Effect:
When a small group of a species separate and create a new species in a separate area to the original population.
Genetic Drift:
Variation of a small population based on genetic mutation and chance
Timeline Project
evolution_of_the_green_anaconda.pdf |
Above is my timeline presentation. For this project we had to research a particular modern day species and find its past ancestors including when they lived and how the related to the next transitional species or the modern species. Certain features in evolution had to be displayed. For my project I decided to research the green anaconda and its ancestors and modern cousins.
Cladorgram Project
Cladorgram Project
hardware.pdf |
In this project we were tasked to take a small container of many different hardware parts and arrange them on a cladorgram that shows the connection of "traits" around them. The pieces were arranged into orders and classes due to their shape, size color, or type of hardware. Included above is a picture of the cladorgram without the hardware. In the presentation we had to include the classes in which we had organised the pieces and what the characteristics were.
PCR Lab Report and Write Up
Purpose: The purpose of this lab was to discover our personal and class Alu repeats and where our DNA originates.
Hypothesis: If we put our DNA through PCR and gel electrophoresis we will be able to see our Alu repeats and where our DNA originates. For this DNA it is predicted that origins from europe and North America are present.
Procedure: (see Babec Alu PCR 2017 for all procedures and materials)
Data/Analysis: Only four students in the class received results, this DNA also received data. From the four results in the class, all of the results were similar (-/- or +/+) but this DNA received different results, +/-. This was shown when observing the jell, as two lines (see below on right). The other results only showed one line for the other individuals. While there was supposed to be an online portion to be completed in which students would be able to input their DNA and results, it was not created. Therefore direct results expected were not received and so the true results were inconclusive. Some conclusions could be drawn for what data was received. This DNA exhibited +/- so one could conclude that one of the parents of this individual had the repeat present and one did not. Unfortunately, this does not tell us the origins of the DNA. While the hypothesis cannot be proven or disproven. There isn't enough data to be able to reach that conclusion. If the lab was to be redone, one would want to set up the online portion and input the DNA so that the hypothesis could be proven or disproven.
Conclusion: From the process of the lab, the conclusion can be reached that the owner of this DNA has one parent with the Alu repeat present and the other does not. To come to this conclusion we extracted out DNA and used PCR to replicate it. We then dyed the DNA and used gel electrophoresis to see the Alu repeats. This DNA presents two lines in the gel which means that the results were +/-. That means that one of the parents of this individual has the Alu repeat and one parent does not. Due to the limited data, the hypothesis cannot be proven or disproven.
Reflection
This unit gave a lot of opportunities for growth and learning. For the cladogram project I had to learn how to work with difficult group members and learn how to compromise. I was also sick for a large portion of the project and the class presentation which led to an almost unfinished feeling that I am sure didn't sit well with my group either. My job i the group was to create the actual cladorgam and get the pieces organised in a way that showed the connections between them and their characteristics. The other group members made the presentation and actually presented it to the class, because of this I feel that I could have done more for the project. I made up for that in the timeline project. I was sick and therefor was switched out of the group i was in without my knowledge and was til last minute that I would have to make the entire project, meant to be done with partners, by myself. I took this as an opportunity to do the best I could and I feel that I put a lot of work into that project. I learned that sometimes, working on a project alone makes it much easier to complete and makes a better end result. There were a lot of difficulties in completing the PCR lab but in the end it was a learning experience.
PCR Lab Report and Write Up
Purpose: The purpose of this lab was to discover our personal and class Alu repeats and where our DNA originates.
Hypothesis: If we put our DNA through PCR and gel electrophoresis we will be able to see our Alu repeats and where our DNA originates. For this DNA it is predicted that origins from europe and North America are present.
Procedure: (see Babec Alu PCR 2017 for all procedures and materials)
Data/Analysis: Only four students in the class received results, this DNA also received data. From the four results in the class, all of the results were similar (-/- or +/+) but this DNA received different results, +/-. This was shown when observing the jell, as two lines (see below on right). The other results only showed one line for the other individuals. While there was supposed to be an online portion to be completed in which students would be able to input their DNA and results, it was not created. Therefore direct results expected were not received and so the true results were inconclusive. Some conclusions could be drawn for what data was received. This DNA exhibited +/- so one could conclude that one of the parents of this individual had the repeat present and one did not. Unfortunately, this does not tell us the origins of the DNA. While the hypothesis cannot be proven or disproven. There isn't enough data to be able to reach that conclusion. If the lab was to be redone, one would want to set up the online portion and input the DNA so that the hypothesis could be proven or disproven.
Conclusion: From the process of the lab, the conclusion can be reached that the owner of this DNA has one parent with the Alu repeat present and the other does not. To come to this conclusion we extracted out DNA and used PCR to replicate it. We then dyed the DNA and used gel electrophoresis to see the Alu repeats. This DNA presents two lines in the gel which means that the results were +/-. That means that one of the parents of this individual has the Alu repeat and one parent does not. Due to the limited data, the hypothesis cannot be proven or disproven.
Reflection
This unit gave a lot of opportunities for growth and learning. For the cladogram project I had to learn how to work with difficult group members and learn how to compromise. I was also sick for a large portion of the project and the class presentation which led to an almost unfinished feeling that I am sure didn't sit well with my group either. My job i the group was to create the actual cladorgam and get the pieces organised in a way that showed the connections between them and their characteristics. The other group members made the presentation and actually presented it to the class, because of this I feel that I could have done more for the project. I made up for that in the timeline project. I was sick and therefor was switched out of the group i was in without my knowledge and was til last minute that I would have to make the entire project, meant to be done with partners, by myself. I took this as an opportunity to do the best I could and I feel that I put a lot of work into that project. I learned that sometimes, working on a project alone makes it much easier to complete and makes a better end result. There were a lot of difficulties in completing the PCR lab but in the end it was a learning experience.