Polytechnic University of the Philippines

College of Science
Department of Biology

Observing Evolution by Natural Selection and Adaptation

Laboratory Activity 7

Andres, Michael Lorenz M.

Dela Cruz, Ian Angelo P.
Gavin, Jenkin Swenson R.
Laluna, Christian Jayvon C.
Ocampo, Danilo Jr. L.
Rebalbos, Jumelle John M.
Group 1 – BS BIOLOGY 3-3

Biology Students, Department of Biology, College of Science, Polytechnic University of the Philippines

ABSTRACT
The theory of natural selection is the centerpiece of The Origin of Species and of the
evolutionary theory. It is this theory that accounts for the adaptations of organisms, the innumerable
features that equips them for survival and reproduction; it is this theory that accounts for the
divergence of species from common ancestors and thus for the endless diversity of life. This theory will
be mimicked by two simple experiments involving the use of representations to further explain
adaptation and evolution. The candies and macaronis resemble the prey being captured and the
students will be their predators. The evolution of the body morphologies of the predators will be seen
on the Mouth and Straw experiment while the evolutionary adaptations of the prey will be seen on the
Random picking method where the prey has an environmental shield. This experiment can also be a
model for the Red Queen Hypothesis of Leigh Van Valen.

Keywords: Natural Selection; Adaptation; Evolution; Red Queen Hypothesis; predator; prey

INTRODUCTION and every population produces more progeny

Overtime, animals change in order to fit
the needs of their environment. Many years
ago, Charles Darwin theorized about the
Evolution by Natural Selection where he said
thatvariation is a feature of natural populations
than its environment can manage. He added
that the consequences of this overproduction is
that those individuals with the best genetic
fitness for the environment will produce
offspring that can more successfully compete in
that environment. Thus the subsequent
generation will have a higher representation of
these offspring and the population will
evolve.Darwin's general theory presumes the
development of life from non-life and stresses
the descents with modification. This means
complex creatures evolve from more simplistic
ancestors naturally over time. In a nutshell, as
random genetic mutations occur within an
organism's genetic code, the beneficial
mutations are preserved because they aid
survival. This process is known as the natural
selection.
In a changing environment, species
were able to adapt phenotypically and
genotypically in order to enhance their survival
and reproduction. Darwin’s finches, inhabiting
the Galapagos archipelago and Cocos Island,
constitute an iconic model for studies of
speciation and adaptive evolution.They have
diversified in beak sizes and shapes, feeding
habits and diets in adapting to differentfood
resources (Lamichhaney et al., 2015). This led
Darwin in the idea of natural selection, which is
the process in which individuals with certain
inherited traits leave more offspring thank
individuals with other traits. This idea explained
the observable patterns of evolution (Reece, J.
B. & Campbell, N. A., 2014). Over time,
beneficial mutations accumulate and the result
is an entirely different organism. Specifically,
this experiment sought to demonstrate the
theory of natural selection involving adaptation
and evolution.
METHODOLOGY
Natural Selection by Mouth and Straw
Method:
This experiment was designed to mimic
Darwin’s theory of Evolution by natural
selection. The first and second part is all about
adaptation. For the first part, two plates were
prepared five meters adjacent to each other.
One plate was then filled with colorful
chocolates. Six different colors were identified
which represents the prey. A representative
from a group will now then act as a predator
and capture one chocolate at a time and
deposit it on the other plate in the duration of
one minute. The number of chocolates
captured was then recorded. This was done in
three trials. After the simulation of capturing by
mouth, the evolution takes lead and usage of
straw will be implemented. The same
representative will act as an evolved predator
and capture the chocolates using the straw one
at a time and depositing it on the other plate
which is five meters away. This was also done in
three trials.
Natural Selection by Random picking Method:
For the second part, the students
procured some colored macaroni, a piece of
cloth in which all the contents of the macaroni
will fit, a plate, and a stop watch. In executing
this method, two students are required to
count and pick macaronis. Macaroni party pasta
was placed in the piece of cloth, the students
were to hold the both corners of the piece of
cloth getting ready to disperse it in the ground
randomly. After dispersing it, one student will
pick it up for one minute and the other one will
check the required timeframe and note the
result. This will be done in two different spots,
one is the PUP oval (grassland) and the other is
the Parking lot on the east side of the PUP main
building. The colors of the macaroni that was
captured will also be recorded for the
reference.
 RESULTS& DISCUSSION
I. Mouth and Straw Method

Table 1: Difference in the number of candies collected using Mouth and Straw:
Trial By Mouth By Straw
1 16 22
2 20 29
3 21 26
Mean Value: By Mouth: 19 By Straw: 25.67

For this experiment, our representative
predator got an average of 19 chocolates by
mouth and 26 chocolates by straw. This can
denote that the availability of straw to use for
the capture made such significance to the
number of captured prey. The results showed
that the predator captured more prey after
using the straw as an adaptation. This denotes
that evolution helps the predator on catching
its prey. This proves the Red Queen Hypothesis
of Leigh Van Valen true. As natural selection
occurs, organisms need to exert more effort
and continue to evolve because if they stopped,
they will face extinction sooner because of
hunger or other reasons.

II. Random picking Method

Table 2: Difference in the number of collected macaroni on cemented ground and grass land
Cemented Area Grassland
Color Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3
Orange 17 21 14 18 26 24
Green 8 6 21 7 3 7
Red 11 7 11 11 14 13
Yellow 9 13 13 12 7 12
Total: 45 47 59 48 50 56

Table 3: Mean values for each macaroni collected

Color Cemented Area Grassland
Orange 17.33 22.67
Green 11.67 5.67
Red 9.67 13.67
Yellow 11.67 10.33
Mean Total 50.33 51.33

The difference in setting made a particularly colors orange, red, and yellow. Only
different result. Clearly, data showed that it was green macaroni in grassy land was not
easy to pick macaroni in the grassy land numerous as compared to others, color of the
grass and the macaroni might be the reason where the concept of prey responses occur. In
why few green macaroni were picked up. On order to avoid being picked up by predators,
the other hand, Macaroni, which were picked they had evolved capabilities such as mimicry,
up in the cement, were fewer as compared to cryptic coloration, aposematism, and
the macaroni picked up in the grass. The terrain camouflage techniques that helps them to
of the setting is reason there are differences in thrive and survive. For such complex creatures
the number of collected macaroni. The to use their environment as an advantage which
effectiveness of a person to pick up macaroni pushes them to live.
depends on the terrain it interacts. This is

CONCLUSION
This experiment only proves to us that a
feature is an adaptation for a particular function
if it has evolved by natural selection for that
function by enhancing the relative rate of
increase the fitness of biological entities with
that feature. It can help the organism to thrive
and survive along the rash competition of
nature. Natural selection may occur at different
levels, such as genes, individual organisms,
populations, and species. Meanwhile, Natural
selection does not necessarily produce any
evolutionary progress. It only makes the
competition tighter along the biotic factors of
our biosphere.

REFERENCES
Lamichhaney, S., Berglund, J., Almén, M. S.,
Maqbool, K., Grabherr, M., Martinez-Barrio, A.,
...& Grant, B. R. (2015). Evolution of Darwin/'s
finches and their beaks revealed by genome
sequencing. Nature, 518(7539), 371-375.

Reece, J. B., & Campbell, N. A. (2014). Campbell

biology. Boston: Benjamin Cummings.