Solved by a verified expert:Natural Selection
Introduction
Scientists have figured out how to extract DNA from various cells. Extracting DNA is very important
concerning heredity, legal issues, and criminal issues. In this lab, you will simulate collecting human cells
and will conduct various virtual laboratory techniques in order to extract DNA from a human cell.
Objectives
1. Explain natural selection.
2. Analyze the progression of disease mutation or traits based on the theory of natural selection.
3. Provide the scientific names of various organisms.
Materials
Computer with internet access
Directions:
1. Go to: http://www2.edc.org/weblabs/NaturalSelection/Main.html
2. Read the information on each slide, and follow the directions on each slide. For this exploration
activity, you only have to conduct the activity using mice.
3. On screen 2, click on Mice.
4. Type all answers directly on the data sheet.
5. Select Save As, and use your last name and student ID as a file name.
6. Upload the data sheet as a .doc, .docx, or .rtf file when finished.
Questions 1 10 are short answer questions and should be answered in 2 to 3 words or 1 to 2 complete
sentences. Each question is worth 3 points for a total of 30 points.
1. What is the scientific name of the common house mouse? (Make sure you type it correctly.)
2. What color was most of the mice in the beginning of the activity?
3. Form a hypothesis as to what you think will happen (in reference to the mice and fur color)
if no cats are allowed in the granary?
4. What actually happened to the number of the mice?
5. Why do you think what you observed occurred?
6. Form a hypothesis as to what you think will happen (in reference to the mice and fur color)
when cats are allowed into the granary?
7. Why did the number of yellow mice decrease?
8. What happened to the number of yellow mice when the granary was painted yellow?
9. In order for the different numbers of the mice to change, did the gene for color mutate
depending on the presence of the cat or color of paint?
10. Did the individual mice present change their color based on the presence of the cat or color
of paint?
Question 11 is an extended response question and should be at least 200 words. Total: 20 points
Consider the following scenario. You suddenly realize that you have a population of mice living in your
attic. You do not want to put out traps or poison, so you decide to get a cat. The cat is fast; however, the
cat is not as fast as the very fast mice. There are a total of 20 mice living in the attic. Of the 20 mice, 10
are very fast, 5 are medium fast, and 5 are very slow.
11. A few weeks pass, and there are fewer mice; however, you still have some mice in the attic. After a
few months, it seems that there are even more mice than there were to begin with. Why do you
have more mice than you did when you first bought the cat? Why do we not see situations such as
this happening in humans as often as we see them in other organisms?
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