Web Activities
UNIT 4: EVOLUTION
Chapter 12 - Mechanisms of Evolution
p. 555
Section 12.2 - 12.3 questions
16. Wildlife biologists in British Columbia estimate that fewer
than 100 Vancouver Island marmots, Marmota vancouverensis,
were alive in 2001.
a. Research this endangered species using print and electronic
resources to determine the cause(s) of the severe bottleneck effect
in their population.
b. What efforts, if any, are being made to maintain the genetic diversity
of this species?
Vancouver
Island Marmot Web
The Vancouver Island Marmot Web site is run by the Marmot Recovery
Foundation. It details the biology of this rare animal, complete with
plenty of photos, as well as providing information on recovery efforts.
Published
Abstracts about Vancouver Island Marmots
Published Abstracts about Vancouver Island Marmots provides summaries
of scientific papers on this endangered animal.
p. 562
Explore an Issue - Debate: Treatment of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis
Statement: Individuals being treated for multi-drug-resistant TB should
be placed under medical house arrest to ensure they complete their treatment
under medical supervision.
- In a group, share responsibility for researching this issue,
using written and electronic resources.
- You may want to consider current status of TB outbreak Some
TB strains are resistant to four or more of the most effective antibiotics,
which increases the cost for treating such patients at a time when
medical expenses are escalating. Find out how house-arrest programs
in North America operate and how effective they have been in the past.
Can individual rights be balanced against society's need to prevent
the spread of antibiotic-resistant diseases? Consider other alternatives
to enforced confinement that could guarantee public safety.
American
Lung Association® Fact Sheet: Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis
The American Lung Association® Fact Sheet: Multidrug-Resistant
Tuberculosis summarizes what this disease is and which drugs the
tuberculosis are resistant to. The site also summarizes some treatments.
Management
of Persons Exposed to Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis
Management of Persons Exposed to Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis
is a report produced by the Center for Disease Control. It covers
how to diagnose MDR-TB and how to potentially treat the disease.
TB
Treatment - No Jail, No Bail
This 1999 article from AsianWeek magazine documents a case
of a Laotian immigrant who was placed under house arrest for not
taking her tuberculosis medicine. TB Treatment - No Jail, No Bail
is a first-hand look at what one woman went through while under
house arrest.
p. 578
Investigation 12.6.1: Evolution in Motion
In this investigation, you will use a computer simulation to explore
the influences of random mutation and natural selection on the evolutionary
change in a species. You will test the effect of modifying the environment
on the potential for new species to form.
Evolution
in Motion Instructions
Evolution
in Motion Lab
p. 583
Review
27. Research Richard Dawkins's theory about "selfish
genes." Prepare arguments and counterarguments for a class debate
on his theory.
The
World of Richard Dawkins
The World of Richard Dawkins explores the writings and life of this
scientific author. It includes the whole of chapter 1, and summaries
of the other chapters, of The Selfish Gene. Other books and
writings are also featured, as well as a biography and further Dawkins
links.
The
Selfish Gene?
The Selfish Gene? is a long essay arguing against the focus of our
society on genetics. The section entitled 'The Selfish Gene' addresses
Richard Dawkins and the selfish gene concept, but be warned - some
of the wording directly misrepresents Dawkins' ideas.
Paul
Ehrlich Challenges the 'Selfish Gene
Stanford professor Paul Ehrlich Challenges the 'Selfish Gene' in a
book entitled
Human Natures. This site discusses the philosophical problems
Ehrlich has with the current wave of selfish-gene thinking in common
sense terms. The site features a Quicktime video interview as well.
Dawkins
and The Selfish Gene
This lecture on Dawkins and The Selfish Gene was presented
at Malaspina University, in British Columbia. It provides a critical
analysis of the book, expressing the view that while much of its scientific
content is valid, Dawkins oversteps the boundaries of science into
matters of morality and culture.
p. 583
Review
29. The strange eyes of stalk-eyed flies have a complicated
basis for their sexual selection. Using print or electronic resources,
find out what this basis is.
Female
Flies Pick Mates with Sexy Eyes
Female Flies Pick Mates with Sexy Eyes, an article from ScienceNewsOnline
explains why stalk-eyed fly males have evolved such an unusual anatomical
feature.
The
Evolution of Female Preference for Long Stalked Eyes
The summary of a scientific paper exploring The Evolution of Female
Preference for Long Stalked Eyes has been posted online by the journal
Behavioral Ecology, which published the original work in
1998.
p. 583
Review
30. Try one of the following on-line activities from the Public
Broadcasting Service series on evolution. Summarize your findings in
a brief report.
a."Sex and the Single Guppy"
b."The Mating Game"
c."The Microbe Clock"
d."The Advantage of Sex"
Sex
and the Single Guppy
Sex and the Single Guppy demonstrates when flash attracts and when
it doesn't- at least for this fish.
The
Mating Game
This version of The Mating Game puts you in the spotlight, choosing
a date as one of five different animals. Which bachelor/ette would
you choose?
The
Microbe Clock
The Microbe Clock invites you to track microbe evolution virtually.
The
Advantage of Sex
The Advantage of Sex is an article written by Matt Ridley, a science
author and editor. This interesting article summarizes why sex evolved.
