Skip to main content
HHMI BioInteractive
  • Español
  • Site Search
  • Log In/Create Account
  • BioInteractive Resources
  • Planning Tools
  • Professional Development
  • About Us

Activity for Evolving Switches, Evolving Bodies

Photo of a researcher looking in a microscope

Topic

  • Genetics
  • Gene Expression & Regulation
  • Evolution
  • Natural Selection
  • Paleobiology

Resource Type

  • Activities
  • Film Activities

Level

High School — GeneralHigh School — AP/IBCollege
Saved By
6 Users
Share This

Description

This activity explores the content and research presented in the short film The Making of the Fittest: Evolving Switches, Evolving Bodies, which illustrates how mutations in gene regulatory regions can play a role in the evolution of major anatomical features.

Many freshwater populations of stickleback fish lack the long spines that project from the pelvis of their marine relatives. These spines are important in the ocean for fending off large predators, so why were they lost in freshwater populations? The film tells the story of how David Kingsley, Michael Bell, and other scientists have identified key genes and genetic switches responsible for the evolution of this remarkable body transformation. Scientists have even documented similar evolutionary changes that occurred in the past, by studying a remarkable fossil record from the site of what was an ancient lake ten million years ago.

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

  • Explain how genetic variations and the environment led to changes in bone morphology in different stickleback populations.

  • Use data to make inferences about the function and evolution of the Pitx1 gene in sticklebacks.

Estimated Time

Two 50-minute class periods.

Key Terms

adaptation, enhancer, gene regulation, gene switch, transcription factor

Primary Literature

Bell, M. A. “Palaeobiology and evolution of threespine stickleback.” In The Evolutionary Biology of the Threespine Stickleback, edited by Michael A. Bell and Susan A. Foster, 438–471. Oxford University Press, 1994.

Shapiro, Michael D., Melissa E. Marks, Catherine L. Peichel, Benjamin K. Blackman, Kirsten S. Nereng, Bjarni Jónsson, Dolph Schluter, and David M, Kingsley. “Genetics and developmental basis of evolutionary pelvic reduction in threespine sticklebacks.” Nature 428, 6984 (2004): 717–723. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature02415.

Terms of Use

Please see the Terms of Use for information on how this resource can be used.

Version History

Date Published 03.07.11

NGSS (2013)

HS-LS1-1, HS-LS3-1, HS-LS3-2; SEP6

AP Biology (2019)

EVO-1.D, EVO-1.E, EVO-1.G, EVO-1.J, EVO-3.A, IST-2.A, IST-2.B, IST-2.D, IST-4.B; SP1, SP4

IB Biology (2016)

2.7, 7.1, 7.2

Common Core (2010)

ELA.RST.9-12.2, ELA.WHST.9-12.9

Vision and Change (2009)

CC2, CC3; DP1

Materials

Student Quiz (PDF) 146 KB
In-Depth Film Guide for Teachers (PDF) 264 KB

Use This Resource With

Video Resource
The Making of the Fittest: Evolving Switches, Evolving Bodies

Explore Related Content

Other Resources About Stickleback Fish

Showing of
Image from the interactive
Click & Learn
Genetic Switches
Screenshot of the virtual lab
Virtual Labs
Stickleback Evolution Virtual Lab
Image of a stickleback fish from the activity
Phenomenal Images
Stickleback Spines
Image of a graph from the activity
Data Points
Pelvic Evolution in Sticklebacks
Graph from the paper
Data Points
Schooling Behavior of Stickleback Fish from Different Habitats
Image of a stickleback being eaten from the interactive
Clips
Stickleback Fish Environment
Image of a stickleback fossil
Clips
Fossil Record of Stickleback Evolution
Image from the activity
Labs & Demos
Modeling the Regulatory Switches of the Pitx1 Gene in Stickleback Fish
Image of stickleback cards from the activity
Card Activities
Using Genetic Crosses to Analyze a Stickleback Trait
Image from the video
Animations
Regulatory Switches in Stickleback Fish
Screen shot of the quiz
Interactive Videos
Interactive Assessment for Evolving Switches, Evolving Bodies
Photo of a stickleback from the film
Short Films
The Making of the Fittest: Evolving Switches, Evolving Bodies

Other Related Resources

Showing of
Image of a stickleback fish from the activity
Phenomenal Images
Stickleback Spines
Screen shot of the quiz
Interactive Videos
Interactive Assessment for Evolving Switches, Evolving Bodies
Photo of a stickleback from the film
Short Films
The Making of the Fittest: Evolving Switches, Evolving Bodies
Photos of different colored mice on different colored terrains
Lessons
What Causes Different Fur Colors?
Photo of a pocket mouse being held by a researcher
Film Activities
Activity for Natural Selection and Adaptation
Image of Darwin and his maid from the video
Film Activities
Activity for The Making of a Theory
Image from the activity
Labs & Demos
Modeling the Regulatory Switches of the Pitx1 Gene in Stickleback Fish
Image of Darwin from the film
Short Films
The Origin of Species: The Making of a Theory
A light colored pocket mouse on light colored lava.
Short Films
The Making of the Fittest: Natural Selection and Adaptation
Screen shot of the quiz
Interactive Videos
Interactive Assessment for Natural Selection and Adaptation
HHMI BioInteractive
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Newsletter Signup
  • HHMI.org
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility