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

Topic
  • Genetics
  • Mutations
  • Anatomy & Physiology
  • Cardiovascular System
  • Evolution
  • Natural Selection
Resource Type
  • Videos
  • Short Films
Level
High School — GeneralHigh School — AP/IBCollege
Duration
00:13:10
Favorited By
12 Users
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Description

This film explores 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.

The “Abbreviated Film Guide” provides a short summary of the film, along with key concepts and connections to curriculum standards.

An audio descriptive version of the film is available via our media player.

Details
Key Terms

Antarctic icefish, antifreeze protein, gene duplication, hemoglobin, 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

This resource complies with accessibility standards in accordance with the final rule for Section 508 of the National Rehabilitation Act.
Version History
Date Published 10.12.11
Curriculum Connections
NGSS (2013)

HS-LS1.A, HS-LS4.A, HS-LS4.C

AP Biology (2019)

EVO-1, IST-2, IST-4, SYI-3

IB Biology (2016)

3.1, 5.1, 5.2, 6.2

AP Environmental Science (2013)

II.C

IB Environmental Systems and Societies (2017)

3.2

Vision and Change (2009)

CC1, CC2

Materials
HD (M4V) 408 MB
HD (WMV) 408 MB
SD (M4V) 104 MB
SD (WMV) 104 MB
Transcript (PDF) 133 KB
Abbreviated Film Guide (PDF) 108 KB

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