1.

Did the fish evolve over the entire

period?
Yes, the fish evolved over the entire period as
observed over the drawings all though out the
generations. It had evolved since the entire
group of population had changed its physical
characteristics.
2. Was variation created each
generation?
Yes. For each generation there has been a change of the physical traits. The most evident
variation is the size. For the first generation, variation includes the body size. In the second
generation, the fish tail. For the third generation, the body size and the length of the tail.
3. Were the traits that you observed changing heritable?
Yes, the traits that I had observed where heritable since they are evident not just in one
individual but rather in the entire population.
4. If the instructor was not being “selection,”what p was determining which fish was chosen to
copy each generation?
The factor that determines which fish was chosen to copy each generation is the fish having the
genes which can survive any change that may take place in the environment.
5. How can something evolve if natural selection has not taken place?
Natural selection can cause genetic drift without changing the DNA of the population.

Explanation:
An example of natural selection that no lasting effect on the population's genetic make up is the
pepper moth in England.

The peppered moth was primarily white with a minority of black moths before the industrial
revolution. During the early part of the industrial revolution with large amounts of black soot in
the air the population changed. There was a dramatic genetic drift toward the black variant of
the moth.

When the transition to electricity and other forms of energy took place in the latter part of the
industrial revolution there was a corresponding shift in the genetic make up of the moths. The
genetic drift was back to the white form with a marked decrease in the black form.

Natural selection will cause the population to shift to the genetic variations best suited to the
present environment. This may not cause a permant change in the genetic make up of the
population.

Often if there is a permant change in the genetic make up of the population it is do to a lose of
genetic variation. For example the white fox population in the arctic regions is most likely a
variation of the grey fox population of the taiga forest to the south. However the white fox
population no longer contains the genes for color. Natural selection has caused a genetic drift
that is irreversible for the white fox.

It is important to be clear about adaptive evolution which is a selection between existing

variations and Darwinian Evolution which is the creation of new genetic variants due to random
mutations. Natural Selection can cause adaptive evolution without causing Darwinian evolution.
1. How did the fish change through time (several generations of drawings)?
For each generation there has been a change of the physical traits. The most evident
variation is the size. For the first generation, variation includes the body size. In the second
generation, the fish tail. For the third generation, the body size and the length of the tail.
2. What does the process of you drawing the fish represent in the process of evolution?
The process of drawing the fish represents Mutation.
3. Describe the role of your instructor in the observed change in the fish. Did you notice any
apparent preference of your instructor for a trait of the fish?
The instructor represents the environment. Yes, the apparent preference of the instructor is
the fish with the biggest body size. It can be inferred that the fish having bigger body size
was favourable and was able to survive in the environment throughout the generation.