Preview - From Ecosystems To Speciation

Exploration 2: Investigate genetic drift


Genetic drift is the process of one type/color surviving without having any selective advantage. In this model, having higher number of flagella do not confer any selective advantage. We've observed that if we run the model long enough, we see only one type survive in the population.

So far we have explored the phenomenon of genetic drift, when there are only two types. Let's explore the phenomenon further when there are multiple types.

Let's focus on the left region while you answer these questions.

Answer question 14 below before you run the model to note down your predictions. Then run the model to test those predictions.


Questions

Please answer the questions below.

Increase the number of types of bacteria to 6 or 7. How do you think the results will be different than when you had 2 types? Write your prediction. Do NOT run the model yet.


Now run the model for at least 30,000 ticks. After you run the model, write your observations and compare those with your predictions. 


Notes

These notes will appear on every page in this lesson so feel free to put anything here you'd like to keep track of.