Natural Selection and Evolution of Rock Pocket Mouse Populations

Topic
Resource Type
Level
High School — GeneralHigh School — AP/IBCollege
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Description

This activity supports concepts covered in the film Natural Selection and Adaptation. Students analyze genetic sequence data and draw conclusions about the evolution of coat-color phenotypes in the rock pocket mouse.

The activity begins with students reading a magazine article and watching the film. They then use a genetic code chart, to determine the amino acids encoded by a sequence of the Mc1r gene in different mouse populations. They then compare amino acid sequences to identify variations associated with different coat colors.

Student Learning Targets

  • Explain the connection between genotype and phenotype.

  • Make claims about the evolution of coat color in different rock pocket mouse populations based on evidence from amino acid sequences.

Details
Estimated Time
One 50-minute class period.
Key Terms

amino acid, gene expression, mRNA, mutation, protein

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 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
Curriculum Connections
NGSS (2013)

HS-LS1-1, HS-LS3-2, HS-LS4-2, HS-LS4-4, HS-LS4-5; SEP6

AP Biology (2015)

1.A.1, 1.A.2, 1.A.3, 3.A.1; SP6

IB Biology (2016)

3.1, 5.2

AP Environmental Science (2013)

II.C

IB Environmental Systems and Societies (2017)

3.2

Common Core (2010)

ELA.RST.9–12.7

Vision and Change (2009)

CC1; DP1

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Rock Pocket Mouse Resources
Ann Brokaw presents three BioInteractive resources she uses to support the short film "Natural Selection and Adaptation."
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