Icefish Blood Adaptations: Viscosity

Topic

Resource Type

Level

High School — General High School — AP/IB

Saved By

6 Users

Description

This hands-on lab activity serves as an introduction to the film The Birth and Death of Genes. Students simulate and compare how blood pumps through the circulatory system of icefish and other fish.

The activity allows students to explore a key adaptation described in the film: the low viscosity of icefish blood. By creating a model of icefish blood and exploring its properties, students are motivated to think about how blood viscosity might be important to survival in sub-zero temperatures. They then watch the film to learn more about the evolutionary process.

Student Learning Targets

Explain the importance of different adaptations (in particular, low blood viscosity) to the survival of icefish.
Use models to make scientific claims based on evidence and reasoning.

Estimated Time

One 50-minute class period.

Key Terms

adaptation, hemoglobin, natural selection, oxygen, red blood cell, trait, viscosity

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.