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Interactive Assessment for The Birth and Death of Genes

Start Video
Screen shot of the icefish quiz screen

Topic

  • Genetics
  • Mutations
  • Anatomy & Physiology
  • Cardiovascular System
  • Evolution
  • Natural Selection

Resource Type

  • Interactive Media
  • Interactive Videos

Level

High School — GeneralHigh School — AP/IBCollege
Saved By
19 Users
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Description

A number of questions are embedded within the short film The Making of the Fittest: The Birth and Death of Genes, which illustrates how gene duplications and mutations have led to remarkable physiological adaptations in Antarctic fish.

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.

This version of the film with embedded questions contains automatic pause points, during which students answer questions about the film to assess their understanding of the concepts presented. After answering all the questions, students can view and print their answers.

 

Estimated Time

Within one 50-minute class period.

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.

Accessibility Level (WCAG compliance)

Interactive media meets criteria.

Version History

Date Published 04.17.15

NGSS (2013)

HS-LS1-1, HS-LS4-2, HS-LS4-4; SEP6

AP Biology (2019)

EVO-1.C, EVO-1.D, EVO-1.E, EVO-1.H, EVO-1.J, EVO-1.O, SYI-3.A, SYI-3.D, IST-2.E, IST-4.A, IST-4.B; SP1

IB Biology (2016)

3.1, 5.2, 6.2

AP Environmental Science (2020)

Topic(s): 1.3, 2.6
Learning Objectives & Practices: ERT-2.H, ERT-1

IB Environmental Systems and Societies (2017)

3.2

Common Core (2010)

ELA.RST.9–12.4

Vision and Change (2009)

CC1, CC2, CC5; DP1

Use This Resource With

Video Resource
The Making of the Fittest: The Birth and Death of Genes

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Activity for The Birth and Death of Genes
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Labs & Demos
Icefish Blood Adaptations: Viscosity
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The Making of the Fittest: The Birth and Death of Genes

Other Related Resources

Showing of
Photo of arctic waters
Film Activities
Activity for The Birth and Death of Genes
Photo of an icefish in sub-freezing water
Short Films
The Making of the Fittest: The Birth and Death of Genes
Photo of icefish in the wild
Labs & Demos
Icefish Blood Adaptations: Antifreeze Proteins
Photo of a researcher comparing icefish blood to bass blood
Labs & Demos
Icefish Blood Adaptations: Viscosity
Photo of an icefish in sub-freezing water
Lessons
How Novel Icefish Genes Can Improve Human Health
Computer image from the video
Clips
Kidney Function
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Animations
Heart Function
Image from the interactive
Click & Learn
Recent Adaptations in Humans
Chart taken from the data points paper.
Data Points
Diving Adaptations in Sea Nomads
Screenshot of the interactive's main screen
Click & Learn
Vertebrate Circulatorium
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