Evolution Teaching Tidbit NJIT Bhavani Balasubramanian Maria Stanko Ellen Wisner Brandeis University Melissa Kosinski-Collins Jim Morris Dan Perlman © Dan Perlman Ecolibrary.org
Context: Midway through a course in Evolution, Ecology, Animal Behavior, or Introductory Biology
Background: Variation, Inheritance, Fitness, Natural Selection, and Adaptation © Dan Perlman Ecolibrary.org
Learning Goal: Understand a long-standing problem in evolutionary biology
Learning Objectives: By the end of this tidbit, you should be able to 1. Define altruism 2. Explain why altruism is a complication for evolution by natural selection
Write down the first three words or phrases that come to mind when you hear “natural selection”.
Natural Selection If a trait is advantageous for the individual in terms of survival and/or reproduction, it will become more common in the population over time by natural selection.
Is the trait advantageous for the individual? Could it have evolved by natural selection? Explain why or why not.
Trait: Claws Advantageous? Natural selection? © Dan Perlman Ecolibrary.org
Trait: Flower color Advantageous? Natural selection? © Dan Perlman Ecolibrary.org
Trait: Alarm calling Advantageous? Natural selection? © Ron Wolf flickr.com
Altruism: a trait or behavior that reduces an individual’s fitness and increases another individual’s fitness
Trait: Sterility Advantageous? Natural selection? © Dan Perlman Ecolibrary.org
1-minute paper: Define altruism and explain why it is a complication for evolution by natural selection.
© Dan Perlman Ecolibrary.org
Learning Objectives: 1. Define altruism 2. Explain why altruism is a complication for evolution by natural selection © Dan Perlman Ecolibrary.org
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