8. Understanding Natural Selection with a Physical Model of Bird Flight

Sugat Dabholkar
Biology
three to four class periods
High School
v1
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Overview

This activity is based on Karin Westerling's Mini-Lesson on natural selection and evaluation of origami birds, and reserach by Dr. Yamanoi. 

Westerling, KE (1992). http://www.indiana.edu/~ensiweb/lessons/origami.html. Accessed 19 Feb 2015.

Students will learn about random mutations producing random variation and how those will affect chances of survival and reproduction.

They will also learn that mutations do not occur to meet the survival needs of an organism. 

Underlying Pages

Standards

Next Generation Science Standards
  •   Life Science
    • [HS-LS4] Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity
  •   NGSS Practice
    • Analyzing Data
    • Communicating Information
    • Constructing Explanations, Designing Solutions
    • Asking Questions, Defining Problems
    • Using Models
    • Arguing from Evidence
    • Conducting Investigations
Computational Thinking in STEM
  •   Data Practices
    • Analyzing Data
    • Collecting Data
    • Creating Data
    • Manipulating Data
    • Visualizing Data
  •   Modeling and Simulation Practices
    • Using Computational Models to Find and Test Solutions
    • Using Computational Models to Understand a Concept
  •   Systems Thinking Practices
    • Investigating a Complex System as a Whole
    • Thinking in Levels
    • Understanding the Relationships within a System

Credits

This lesson has been developed originally developed Westerling's Origami Birds, and the research by Dr. Yamanoi.

Westerling, KE (1992). http://www.indiana.edu/~ensiweb/lessons/origami.html. Accessed 19 Feb 2015.

Yamanoi, T., Suzuki, K., Takemura, M., & Sakura, O. (2012a). Improved “origami bird” protocol enhances Japanese students’ understanding of evolution by natural selection-a novel approach linking DNA alteration to phenotype change-. Evolution: Education & Outreach, 5, 292–300.

Acknowledgement

It has been adapted for CT-STEM website with help of Anagh Purandare and Aniruddh Shastry. 

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