Overview
Students experiment with a population of bacteria growing in an environment with sugar as an energy source. The population of bacteria consist of different types represented with different colors. Different types of bacteria have different number of flagella; however, in this model there is no selective advantage of having more number of flagella. Students explore this model to investigate the phenomenon of genetic drift. They discover that even though there is no selective advantage of having more or less flagella, eventually only one type survives in the population. This happens because of statistical selection, also referred to as genetic drift.
Underlying Pages
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0. Student Directions -
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1. Get to know the model -
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2. Exploration 1: Investigate carrying capacity -
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3. Make a prediction -
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4. Test your prediction -
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5. Exploration 2: Investigate genetic drift -
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6. Understanding Randomness In Genetic Drift -
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7. Effect of carrying capacity on genetic drift -
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8. Discoveries -
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Standards
Next Generation Science Standards
- Life Science
- NGSS Crosscutting Concept
- NGSS Practice
Computational Thinking in STEM
- Data Practices
- Modeling and Simulation Practices
- Computational Problem Solving Practices
- Systems Thinking Practices