Skip to main content
Toggle User Menu

HHMI BioInteractive

  • Español
  • Search
  • Log In/Create Account
  • Classroom Resources
  • Planning Tools
  • Professional Development
  • About Us
BioInteractive Resource Playlist
Teaching the Central Dogma Using the Rock Pocket Mouse and Genetic Medicine
Previous Resource
1. The Making of the Fittest Natural Selection and Adaptation
Next Resource

The Making of the Fittest: Natural Selection and Adaptation

Topic
  • Genetics
  • Gene Expression & Regulation
  • Evolution
  • Natural Selection
  • Population Genetics
Resource Type
  • Videos
  • Short Films
Level
High School — GeneralHigh School — AP/IBCollege
Duration
00:10:25
Used In
2 BioInteractive Playlists
Favorited By
76 Users
Share This
View in Spanish
Description

This film describes natural selection and adaptation in populations of rock pocket mice living in the American Southwest.

Mice living on light-colored sand tend to have light-colored coats, while mice living on patches of dark-colored rock have mostly dark-colored coats. Michael Nachman studies the evolutionary processes that led to these marked differences in rock pocket mouse populations. He has quantified the selective pressure imposed by predators and identified the genes involved in the adaptations of mouse populations to their substrates. Nachman’s work also demonstrates that similar selective pressures can drive evolution toward similar phenotypic adaptations but using very different genetic paths.

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

camouflage, melanin, melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R), mutation, rock pocket mouse, selective pressure, trait, variation

Primary Literature

Nachman, Michael W., Hopi E. Hoekstra, and Susan L. D’Agostino. “The Genetic Basis of Adaptive Melanism in Pocket Mice.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 100, no. 9 (April 29, 2003): 5268–5273. 

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
Date Updated 05.14.20
Curriculum Connections
NGSS (2013)

HS.LS1.A, HS.LS2.A, HS.LS2.C, HS.LS3.A, HS.LS3.B, HS.LS4.B, HS.LS4.C

AP Biology (2019)

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

IB Biology (2016)

4.1, 5.4

AP Environmental Science (2013)

II.A, II.C

Vision and Change (2009)

CC1, CC5

Materials
HD (M4V) 323 MB
HD (WMV) 323 MB
SD (M4V) 82 MB
SD (WMV) 82 MB
Transcript (PDF) 160 KB
Spanish Dub (Español) (MP4) 182 MB
Transcript - Español (PDF) 240 KB
Abbreviated Film Guide (PDF) 104 KB
Abbreviated Film Guide - Español (PDF) 173 KB

Educator Tips

Hear how educators are using BioInteractive content in their teaching.
Educator in front of an image of a brown mouse on a lava flow Play Video Next Slide Next Slide
/
1-Minute Tips
Rock Pocket Mouse Resources
Ann Brokaw presents three BioInteractive resources she uses to support the short film "Natural Selection and Adaptation."
View Article
Previous Slide Next Slide
Close Modal

Explore Related Content

Other Resources About Rock Pocket Mice
Showing of
Screen shot of the quiz
Interactive Videos
Interactive Assessment for Natural Selection and Adaptation
Animations
Rock Pocket Mice and Predation
Animations
Simulating Evolution of a Rock Pocket Mouse Population
Screenshot of mouse fur evolution animation
Lessons
Developing an Explanation for Mouse Fur Color
Film Activities
Activity for Natural Selection and Adaptation
Card Activities
Color Variation Over Time in Rock Pocket Mouse Populations
Lessons
Allele and Phenotype Frequencies in Rock Pocket Mouse Populations
Lessons
Molecular Genetics of Color Mutations in Rock Pocket Mice
Lessons
Biochemistry and Cell Signaling Pathway of the Mc1r Gene
Lessons
Natural Selection and Evolution of Rock Pocket Mouse Populations
Other Related Resources
Showing of
Screen shot of the quiz
Interactive Videos
Interactive Assessment for Natural Selection and Adaptation
Film Activities
Activity for Natural Selection and Adaptation
Card Activities
Color Variation Over Time in Rock Pocket Mouse Populations
Animations
Simulating Evolution of a Rock Pocket Mouse Population
Lessons
Analyzing Data on Tuskless Elephants
Screenshot of mouse fur evolution animation
Lessons
Developing an Explanation for Mouse Fur Color
Lessons
Allele and Phenotype Frequencies in Rock Pocket Mouse Populations
Lessons
Natural Selection and Evolution of Rock Pocket Mouse Populations
Labs & Demos
Population Genetics, Selection, and Evolution
Labs & Demos
Battling Beetles
This Resource Appears in the Following Playlists
Showing of
hhmi-card
Teaching Natural Selection and the Genetic Code Using the Rock Pocket Mouse
4 Resources
By: BioInteractive
hhmi-card
Teaching the Central Dogma Using the Rock Pocket Mouse and Genetic Medicine
8 Resources
By: BioInteractive

HHMI BioInteractive

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Newsletter Signup
  • HHMI.org
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy