Use your observations to answer the questions below (Answers to these questions shall constitute the

content of your Mini-Research Paper):

1. The mutation introduced in this simulation is the change in fur color of the mice from dark to light.
What happened to the mice with light fur in the forest? What happened to them in the beach?

In the forest, the mice which have light fur color were easily eaten by the owl. In the simulation,
after ten (10) seconds, their population dropped to zero. However, when they were in the beach, their
population became higher than the dark mice. When the owl was there hunting, the dark mice were the
ones which were easily been eaten by the owl.

2. Are mutations harmful to a species? Why or why not?

Mutation is the change in the sequence of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) of an organism.

3. Which factors in the simulation, such as mutation, location or habitat and number of mice, do you
think can affect the traits of the next generation of mice that is produced? Why do you say so?

In the simulation, the factors that affect the traits of the next generation of mice are the habitat,
number of mice and the mutation. Habitat can affect the traits of the next generation of mice because
they need to adapt to their environment in order to survive. The number of mice can be a factor
because it is in their genes that the dominating traits can be identified. The more mice which carry the
dominating trait, the higher the possibility that the next generation will also acquire that trait. When it
comes to mutation, it can affect the trait of the next generation if for example there are changes in the
genetic codes of some of the mice that will be born. When this happen, different traits will arise from
them, which can be later on pass to the next generation.

4. What are the signs you saw during the simulation which tell you that evolution has occurred?

During the simulation, one of the signs that tells that evolution has occurred was when the
mutation happened. It happened during the addition of the light mice to the population of the dark
mice. Since mutation is essential to evolution because it happens when there is a modification in an
organism’s DNA, it took place when the replication of the DNA happened, which resulted to the
production of new mice.

5. Do you think evolution is still occurring in nature? Cite an example to support your answer.