Use the drop-down menus to complete the sentences.
The color of the light changes in the scenario because a volcano erupts. The light is the
variable.
When the color of the light changes, the number of light red walking beans will also change. The population of light red walking beans is therefore the
variable.
The color of the light changes in the scenario because a volcano erupts. The light is the independent variable.
When the color of the light changes, the number of light red walking beans will also change. The population of light red walking beans is therefore the dependent variable.
Write a hypothesis about the effect of the red light on the population of light red walking beans. Use the "if . . . then . . . because . . ." format, and be sure to answer the lesson question: "How does natural selection change the phenotypes within a population over time?"
If the red light is exposed to a population of light red walking beans, then the population of light red walking beans will increase over time because natural selection favors individuals that are better adapted to their environment. This increase in population will demonstrate how natural selection can change the phenotypes within a population over time.
Complete the sentences to identify the conditions that are necessary for natural selection.
The environment needs to change. In this lab, the
of the light was the change to the environment.
Populations must have some
variation. In the bean population, the color of the beans varies.
Organisms must have a specific
in order to survive and reproduce. During the period of red light pollution, the majority of the survivors were light red.
The environment needs to change. In this lab, the activation of the red light was the change to the environment.
Populations must have some genetic variation. In the bean population, the color of the beans varies.
Organisms must have a specific adaptation in order to survive and reproduce. During the period of red light pollution, the majority of the survivors were light red.
Look at the bean data from Days 4–6. Use these data to explain how natural selection changed the number of dark red walking beans over time.
In the bean data from Days 4-6, it can be observed that the number of dark red walking beans decreased over time. This can be explained by natural selection, which favors individuals that are better adapted to their environment and have a higher chance of survival and reproduction.
Initially, there might have been a population of beans with varying colors, including dark red walking beans. However, when the red light was introduced, it acted as a selective pressure on the bean population. The red light pollution created an environment where individuals with lighter red coloration had an advantage over those with darker red coloration.
Lighter red beans might have been better camouflaged in the red light, making them less visible to predators or increasing their chances of successfully obtaining resources for survival. As a result, these lighter red beans had a higher likelihood of surviving and reproducing compared to the darker red beans.
Over time, this selective advantage led to an increase in the population of light red walking beans and a decrease in the population of dark red walking beans. Through natural selection, the trait for lighter red coloration became more prevalent within the population, indicating a change in the phenotypes over time.