Biology
Natural Selection
Haven't got a few hundred thousand years to spare to demonstrate the process of evolution to your students? Why not try PhET's Natural Selection simulation?
PhET's natural selection simulation allows students to breed generations of rabbits in a few seconds (even faster with the fast-forward button!) and follow the evolution of the population over time. Students can introduce mutations to the population and track how these variations effect the chance of survival under different environmental selection factors such as wolves and tough to eat food. Brown fur may seem like an advantage at first, but playing with the simulations allows students to see how a particular variation can be advantageous in one environment while deleterious in another. Powerful tools, such as pedigree analysis, allow students to track alleles within the population over time and also to include a genetics component to the simulation which deepens student understanding of the process of evolution while reviewing (or introducing) important biological concepts.
This simulation may be used to introduce or review the concept of evolution through natural selection, supplement direct instruction or even support students to teach themselves through guided-inquiry.
Learning goals for this simulation include:
PhET's natural selection simulation is a cost effective way (it's free!), engaging, and visual way to teach your students about some of the factors involved in evolution of a population over time. Not sure where to get started or don't have time to create an inquiry-based lab activity? There is a library of teacher-submitted editable activities at your fingertips and ready to print!
PhET's natural selection simulation allows students to breed generations of rabbits in a few seconds (even faster with the fast-forward button!) and follow the evolution of the population over time. Students can introduce mutations to the population and track how these variations effect the chance of survival under different environmental selection factors such as wolves and tough to eat food. Brown fur may seem like an advantage at first, but playing with the simulations allows students to see how a particular variation can be advantageous in one environment while deleterious in another. Powerful tools, such as pedigree analysis, allow students to track alleles within the population over time and also to include a genetics component to the simulation which deepens student understanding of the process of evolution while reviewing (or introducing) important biological concepts.
This simulation may be used to introduce or review the concept of evolution through natural selection, supplement direct instruction or even support students to teach themselves through guided-inquiry.
Learning goals for this simulation include:
- Determine which mutations are favored by the selection agents of predators and food variety and which mutations are neutral.
- Describe which traits change the survivability of an organism in different environments.
- Experiment with environments which produce a stable population of bunnies, a population that dies out, and a population that takes over the world.
- Track genes through multiple generations.
- Compare how dominant and recessive genes get passed onto offspring (PhET, 2021c)
PhET's natural selection simulation is a cost effective way (it's free!), engaging, and visual way to teach your students about some of the factors involved in evolution of a population over time. Not sure where to get started or don't have time to create an inquiry-based lab activity? There is a library of teacher-submitted editable activities at your fingertips and ready to print!
Here's what the experts are saying about PhET:
- “Clearly, the [PhET] team has thought carefully about creating resources that go beyond the basic interactive demonstration; these simulations will function as tools to stimulate learning in the life science classroom.” (Dou, 2015)
Sounds awesome, right? Try it out below! Or try the direct link to the simulation - Natural Selection
Need some tips to get started? YouTube has many great examples of tutorials! (Roman, 2020)
PhET Natural Selection Simulation Walk-through by Tracie Roman
PhET Natural Selection Simulation Walk-through by Tracie Roman
Professional Learning Community Extension
As mentioned above, there is a great Teacher Resource Page to learn more about the simulation or to download ready-to-print teacher-submitted activities. Note - to access the content on this page, you will need to sign up for free account.
Below are samples of the information you will find in the teacher tips PDF.
Below are samples of the information you will find in the teacher tips PDF.
Each simulation has a collection of teacher-submitted activities. This list can be sorted by level/grade, type (demo, guided inquiry, lab, discussion, etc.), subject, creator, and also for a gold star rating which indicate high-quality, inquiry-based activities which follow the PhET design guidelines.
Below is an example of a teacher-submitted activity which includes access to a lesson and answer key in Google Doc format. Other helpful information on this page to quickly determine if this activity is appropriate for you include a description, grade level, and duration.
Below is an example of a teacher-submitted activity which includes access to a lesson and answer key in Google Doc format. Other helpful information on this page to quickly determine if this activity is appropriate for you include a description, grade level, and duration.
These activities have already been tried and tested by teachers prior to submission:
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Well known biology websites such as The Biology Corner are also making content using PhET simulations! Check out the example below by clicking here.
(Muskopf, 2016)
(Muskopf, 2016)
Below are sample screenshots of what students might build using the simulations:
Enhance your lesson on natural selection by tracking the appearance of a dominant allele mutation through pedigree analysis:
The natural world can be harsh and unforgiving. A random mutation which caused straight ears was of no advantage to the white, short tooth rabbits to survive the conditions of a tough food source and hungry wolves. Perhaps try a brown fur mutation next time?
Get Started Today!
It's free! What are you waiting for? Students can access this simulation on school computers or their own devices as well! If you run into troubles or need some pre-made ideas for labs, remember to check out the Teacher Resource Page.
How do organisms with different traits survive various selection pressures in their environment? Click the 'Add a Mate' button to begin making rabbits (to feed to the wolves - unless they have the right traits!) to find out! Studying population dynamics on a macroscopic scale... it's time for your students to hop to it!
How do organisms with different traits survive various selection pressures in their environment? Click the 'Add a Mate' button to begin making rabbits (to feed to the wolves - unless they have the right traits!) to find out! Studying population dynamics on a macroscopic scale... it's time for your students to hop to it!
References:
Dou, R. (2015). PhET interactive simulations: Biology. The American Biology Teacher, 77(5), 397-397. https://doi.org/10.1525/abt.2015.77.5.13b
PhET. (2021c). Natural selection. https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/natural-selection
Muskopf, S. (2016, June 3). Natural Selection Simulator. The Biology Corner. https://www.biologycorner.com/2016/06/03/natural-selection-simulator/
Roman, T. [Tracie Roman]. (2020, September 13). PhET Natural Selection Simulation Walk-through [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B1yt0-9ibc
Dou, R. (2015). PhET interactive simulations: Biology. The American Biology Teacher, 77(5), 397-397. https://doi.org/10.1525/abt.2015.77.5.13b
PhET. (2021c). Natural selection. https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/natural-selection
Muskopf, S. (2016, June 3). Natural Selection Simulator. The Biology Corner. https://www.biologycorner.com/2016/06/03/natural-selection-simulator/
Roman, T. [Tracie Roman]. (2020, September 13). PhET Natural Selection Simulation Walk-through [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B1yt0-9ibc