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

Allele and Phenotype Frequencies in Rock Pocket Mouse Populations

Photo of a researcher looking at a computer

Topic

  • Evolution
  • Natural Selection
  • Population Genetics
  • Math & Computational Skills
  • Data Analysis

Resource Type

  • Activities
  • Lessons

Level

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

Description

This activity reinforces concepts of variation and natural selection covered in the short film Natural Selection and Adaptation. Students apply the Hardy-Weinberg equation to real data collected on rock pocket mouse populations.

Students begin by watching the film and reviewing the basic principles of the Hardy-Weinberg theorem. They then apply Hardy-Weinberg to data collected by Michael Nachman and his colleagues on the coat color of rock pocket mouse populations in Arizona and New Mexico. In an extension activity, students can use the accompanying spreadsheet to explore how the selection coefficient(s) influences the coat color phenotype of future generations.

The “Resource Google Folder” link directs to a Google Drive folder of resource documents in the Google Docs format. Not all downloadable documents for the resource may be available in this format. The Google Drive folder is set as “View Only”; to save a copy of a document in this folder to your Google Drive, open that document, then select File → “Make a copy.” These documents can be copied, modified, and distributed online following the Terms of Use listed in the “Details” section below, including crediting BioInteractive.  

Student Learning Targets

  • ​​​​​​Explain how variation, selection, and time fuel the process of evolution.
  • Use the Hardy-Weinberg equation to calculate the number of mice with homozygous and heterozygous genotypes for dark fur color.
  • Explain the relationship between the selection coefficient and natural selection.

Estimated Time

Two 50-minute class periods.

Key Terms

adaptation, convergent evolution, ecological niche, ecomorph, evolution, phylogenetic tree

Primary Literature

Michael W. Nachman, Hopi E. Hoekstra, and Susan L. D'Agostino. “The genetic basis of adaptive melanism in pocket mice.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 100, 9 (2003): 5268–5273. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0431157100.

Terms of Use

The resource is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International license. No rights are granted to use HHMI’s or BioInteractive’s names or logos independent from this Resource or in any derivative works.

Version History

Date Published 03.07.11
Date Updated 04.21.20

NGSS (2013)

HS-LS3-1, HS-LS3-3, HS-LS4-2, HS-LS4-3, HS-LS4-4, HS-LS4-5; SEP2, SEP4, SEP5, SEP6

AP Biology (2019)

EVO-1.C, EVO-1.D, EVO-1.E, EVO-1.G, EVO-1.H, EVO-1.J, EVO-1.K, EVO-3.A, SYI-3.D, IST-2.E, IST-4.A, IST-4.B; SP1, SP4, SP5, SP6

IB Biology (2016)

3.1, 5.2, 10.3

AP Environmental Science (2020)

Topic(s): 2.1, 3.1, 3.5
Learning Objectives & Practices: ERT-2.A, ERT-3.A, ERT-3.F, SP6

IB Environmental Systems and Societies (2017)

3.1, 5.1, 5.2, 10.3

Common Core (2010)

ELA.RST.9–12.3, ELA.RST.9–12.7
Math.A-REI.3, Math.A-REI.5; MP2, MP4

Vision and Change (2009)

CC1, CC3; DP1, DP2, DP3

Materials

Resource Google Folder (link)
Student Handout (PDF) 177 KB
Teacher Materials (PDF) 167 KB
Selection Coefficient Workbook (Excel) 471 KB

Additional Materials

access to a computer with Excel if doing the extension activity

Use This Resource With

Video Resource
The Making of the Fittest: Natural Selection and Adaptation

Explore Related Content

Other Resources About Rock Pocket Mice

Showing of
Screenshot of mouse fur evolution animation
Lessons
Developing an Explanation for Mouse Fur Color
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
Diagram from the activity
Card Activities
Color Variation Over Time in Rock Pocket Mouse Populations
Image from the activity
Lessons
Biochemistry and Cell Signaling Pathway of the Mc1r Gene
Screen shot of the quiz
Interactive Videos
Interactive Assessment for Natural Selection and Adaptation
A light colored pocket mouse on light colored lava.
Short Films
The Making of the Fittest: Natural Selection and Adaptation
Computer image of an owl grabbing a mouse
Animations
Rock Pocket Mice and Predation
Computer image of a light and dark mouse on cooled lava
Animations
Simulating Evolution of a Rock Pocket Mouse Population

Other Related Resources

Showing of
Bar graph taken from the resource
Lessons
Analyzing Data on Tuskless Elephants
Diagram from the activity
Card Activities
Color Variation Over Time in Rock Pocket Mouse Populations
Image of a lizard from the activity
Card Activities
Look Who's Coming for Dinner: Selection by Predation
Screenshot of mouse fur evolution animation
Lessons
Developing an Explanation for Mouse Fur Color
Image from the activity
Labs & Demos
Battling Beetles
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
Screen shot of the quiz
Interactive Videos
Interactive Assessment for Natural Selection and Adaptation
A light colored pocket mouse on light colored lava.
Short Films
The Making of the Fittest: Natural Selection and Adaptation
Computer image of a light and dark mouse on cooled lava
Animations
Simulating Evolution of a Rock Pocket Mouse Population
HHMI BioInteractive
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Newsletter Signup
  • HHMI.org
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility