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Bio Lab 16

The document outlines an experiment designed to investigate natural selection using colored matchsticks to represent prey and a student acting as a predator. Over three trials, the number of matchsticks caught and the resulting survivors were recorded, demonstrating the concept of survival and reproduction based on predation. The document also includes discussion questions to further explore the definition and examples of natural selection.

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EstherHercules
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21 views2 pages

Bio Lab 16

The document outlines an experiment designed to investigate natural selection using colored matchsticks to represent prey and a student acting as a predator. Over three trials, the number of matchsticks caught and the resulting survivors were recorded, demonstrating the concept of survival and reproduction based on predation. The document also includes discussion questions to further explore the definition and examples of natural selection.

Uploaded by

EstherHercules
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Title: Natural Selection

Aim: To investigate the process of natural selection.

Materials/Apparatus:
●​ 240 match sticks
●​ blue marker
●​ brown marker
●​ yellow marker
●​ green marker

Method:
1.​ The markers were used to colour 60 matchsticks blue, 60 brown, 60 yellow and
60 green.
2.​ A mixture of 30 matchsticks of each colour was scattered onto a lab table to
represent the prey.
3.​ For a period of 10 seconds, one student picked up one match stick at a time and
put it into a beaker.The student represented the predator and picking up the
matchsticks simulated “catching the prey”.
4.​ The number of matchsticks remaining for each colour were counted. The
remaining matchsticks represented the survivors.
5.​ Each survivor was given one offspring of the same colour.
6.​ Steps 3-5 were repeated twice.
7.​ The results were recorded.

Diagram:
Results/Observations:

Trial Prey Population Number of Prey Number of New prey


(Coloured Match Caught Survivors population(after
sticks) each survivor is
given one
offspring)

1 30 blue 12 18 36

30 brown 3 27 54

30 yellow 17 13 26

30 green 2 28 56

2 36 blue 15 21 42

54 brown 5 49 98

26 yellow 14 12 24

56 green 1 55 110

3 42 blue 18 24 48

98 brown 7 91 182

24 yellow 11 13 26

110 green 0 110 220

Discussion Questions:
1.Define Natural Selection.
2.Outline examples of natural selection.
3.Explain the trends in your results.

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