Activity for The Birth and Death of Genes

Resource Type
Description
This activity explores the research presented in the short film The Making of the Fittest: The Birth and Death of Genes, which illustrates how gene duplications and mutations have allowed some fish to adapt to extreme environments.
The discovery of the Antarctic icefish has provided a stunning example of adaptation in an environment that is both hostile and abundant. Scientists Bill Detrich, Christina Cheng, and Art DeVries have pinpointed the genetic changes that enable icefish to thrive without hemoglobin and red blood cells and to avoid freezing in the icy ocean. The “Student Handout” probes students’ understanding of the key concepts addressed in the film. The “Educator Materials” document provides suggested pause points in the film with questions for students, background information, and detailed discussion points; a list of related resources and references; and an answer key for the “Student Handout.”
Student Learning Targets
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Explain how gene duplications and mutations can provide the genetic diversity necessary for evolution.
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Use data to make claims about how mutations and selective pressure work together to drive evolution.
Estimated Time
Key Terms
Antarctic icefish, antifreeze protein, gene duplication, marine biology, mutation
Primary Literature
Chen, Liangbiao, Arthur L. DeVries, and Chi-Hing C. Cheng. “Evolution of Antifreeze Glycoprotein Gene from a Trypsinogen Gene in Antarctic Notothenioid Fish.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 94, 8 (1997): 3811–3816. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.94.8.3811.
Deng, Cheng, C.-H. Christina Cheng, Hua Ye, Ximiao He, and Liangbiao Chen. “Evolution of an Antifreeze Protein by Neofunctionalization under Escape from Adaptive Conflict.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 107, 50 (2010): 21593–21598. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1007883107.
Terms of Use
Please see the Terms of Use for information on how this resource can be used.
Version History
NGSS (2013)
HS-LS1-1, HS-LS4-2, HS-LS4-4; SEP6
AP Biology (2019)
EVO-1.D, EVO-1.J, EVO-1.O, IST-4.A, IST-4.B, SYI-3.A; SP1
IB Biology (2016)
3.1, 5.2, 6.2
AP Environmental Science (2020)
Topic(s): 1.3, 2.6
Learning Objectives & Practices: ERT-1.C, ERT-2.H, SP2, SP4, SP5
IB Environmental Systems and Societies (2017)
3.2
Common Core (2010)
ELA.RST.9-12.2, ELA.WHST.9-12.9
Vision and Change (2009)
CC1, CC2, CC5; DP1