Concept Survey: “Selection” Please get out a piece of paper

In this task... You will be shown a series of statements. Read them carefully, then sort them into one of two categories: A = This an example of natural selection B = Not an example of natural selection Then explain your choice in writing. You will be shown a series of statements. Read them carefully, then sort them into one of two categories: A = This an example of natural selection B = Not an example of natural selection Then explain your choice in writing.

Statement 1 of 3 Our little toes aren’t necessary for walking. Because of this, some people think they will get smaller each generation and eventually disappear from lack of use over time. A = This an example of natural selection B = Not an example of natural selection Explain your choice in writing. Our little toes aren’t necessary for walking. Because of this, some people think they will get smaller each generation and eventually disappear from lack of use over time. A = This an example of natural selection B = Not an example of natural selection Explain your choice in writing.

Statement 2 of 3 Dark-colored grasshoppers resting on pale, dry grass stalks are more easily seen by predators than light- colored grasshoppers of the same species. Because the dark-colored grasshoppers have higher mortality, there will be fewer dark-colored grasshoppers each generation. A = This an example of natural selection B = Not an example of natural selection Explain your choice in writing. Dark-colored grasshoppers resting on pale, dry grass stalks are more easily seen by predators than light- colored grasshoppers of the same species. Because the dark-colored grasshoppers have higher mortality, there will be fewer dark-colored grasshoppers each generation. A = This an example of natural selection B = Not an example of natural selection Explain your choice in writing.

Statement 3 of 3 The flowering shrub called Hydrangea has flowers that are blue if the shrub is growing in acidic soil. If the same shrub is transplanted into alkaline soil, its blossoms will turn pink. A = This an example of natural selection B = Not an example of natural selection Explain your choice in writing. The flowering shrub called Hydrangea has flowers that are blue if the shrub is growing in acidic soil. If the same shrub is transplanted into alkaline soil, its blossoms will turn pink. A = This an example of natural selection B = Not an example of natural selection Explain your choice in writing.

Statement 4 of 7 The inheritable disorder called sickle-cell anemia occurs at high rates in sub-Saharan Africa because people who are carriers for the disease (that is, they have one sickle- cell gene and one normal gene) resist the malaria parasite better than people who do not carry the sickle-cell gene. The disease occurs at much lower rates in parts of the world where malaria is uncommon. A = This an example of natural selection B = Not an example of natural selection Explain your choice in writing. The inheritable disorder called sickle-cell anemia occurs at high rates in sub-Saharan Africa because people who are carriers for the disease (that is, they have one sickle- cell gene and one normal gene) resist the malaria parasite better than people who do not carry the sickle-cell gene. The disease occurs at much lower rates in parts of the world where malaria is uncommon. A = This an example of natural selection B = Not an example of natural selection Explain your choice in writing.

Statement 5 of 7 Dandelions growing in an unmowed field have leaves that are upright. If the same field is mowed repeatedly, the dandelions survive and grow new leaves, but the leaves will grow flat against the ground. A = This an example of natural selection B = Not an example of natural selection Explain your choice in writing. Dandelions growing in an unmowed field have leaves that are upright. If the same field is mowed repeatedly, the dandelions survive and grow new leaves, but the leaves will grow flat against the ground. A = This an example of natural selection B = Not an example of natural selection Explain your choice in writing.

Statement 6 of 7 Lactose intolerance (the inability to digest milk sugar) is common worldwide. Mammals, including humans, normally stop digesting milk soon after weaning. A small mutation causes people to continue making the milk-digesting enzyme all their lives. In prehistoric northern Europe, people raised herd animals. In late winter, when food stores were depleted but herd animals were giving birth, people with this mutation drank milk as an extra food source. To this day, rates of lactose intolerance are very low in northern Europe. A = This an example of natural selection B = Not an example of natural selection Explain your choice in writing. Lactose intolerance (the inability to digest milk sugar) is common worldwide. Mammals, including humans, normally stop digesting milk soon after weaning. A small mutation causes people to continue making the milk-digesting enzyme all their lives. In prehistoric northern Europe, people raised herd animals. In late winter, when food stores were depleted but herd animals were giving birth, people with this mutation drank milk as an extra food source. To this day, rates of lactose intolerance are very low in northern Europe. A = This an example of natural selection B = Not an example of natural selection Explain your choice in writing.

Statement 7 of 7 If domestic cats are abandoned in the wild, most of them die within a few days, but some will have traits that help them survive a while longer. If the survivors are fertile and reproduce, and some of their offspring survive and reproduce, several generations later the kittens that descend from the original abandoned cats will be difficult to tame even when captured early. A = This an example of natural selection B = Not an example of natural selection Explain your choice in writing. If domestic cats are abandoned in the wild, most of them die within a few days, but some will have traits that help them survive a while longer. If the survivors are fertile and reproduce, and some of their offspring survive and reproduce, several generations later the kittens that descend from the original abandoned cats will be difficult to tame even when captured early. A = This an example of natural selection B = Not an example of natural selection Explain your choice in writing.

In groups… Read each of these statements and decide if it is or is not an example of Darwin’s theory of natural selection. 1. Our little toes aren’t necessary for walking. Because of this, some people think they will get smaller each generation and eventually disappear from lack of use over time. 2. The flowering shrub called Hydrangea has flowers that are blue if the shrub is growing in acidic soil. If the same shrub is transplanted into alkaline soil, its blossoms will turn pink. 3. The inheritable disorder called sickle-cell anemia occurs at high rates in sub-Saharan Africa because people who are carriers for the disease (that is, they have one sickle-cell gene and one normal gene) resist the malaria parasite better than people who do not carry the sickle-cell gene. The disease occurs at much lower rates in parts of the world where malaria is uncommon. Read each of these statements and decide if it is or is not an example of Darwin’s theory of natural selection. 1. Our little toes aren’t necessary for walking. Because of this, some people think they will get smaller each generation and eventually disappear from lack of use over time. 2. The flowering shrub called Hydrangea has flowers that are blue if the shrub is growing in acidic soil. If the same shrub is transplanted into alkaline soil, its blossoms will turn pink. 3. The inheritable disorder called sickle-cell anemia occurs at high rates in sub-Saharan Africa because people who are carriers for the disease (that is, they have one sickle-cell gene and one normal gene) resist the malaria parasite better than people who do not carry the sickle-cell gene. The disease occurs at much lower rates in parts of the world where malaria is uncommon.