Introduction to Mutations

CHAPTER 3 – MUTATION AND ADAPTIVE TRAITS

3.1.1 WARM-UP
Examine the new newt histogram, which introduces you to some new information. Be ready to share your initial ideas.
(7 min)

3.1.1 WARM-UP
There were no newts with Poison Level 10 200 generations ago, but there were newts with Poison Level 10 50
generations ago.
Answers will vary; the purpose is for students to express initial ideas. Some may mention mutations.

3.1.1 WARM-UP
Summarize what the histogram representing poison levels from 200 generations
ago shows.
• The trait for the highest level of poison did not exist in the population.
We know that organisms pass traits onto their offspring through reproduction, so how
is it possible that a new trait could ever appear in a population? Wouldn’t a trait have
to already exist in the population?

Often scientists create an
explanation based on the
available evidence, and
then re-evaluate their
claim and reasoning upon
receiving new evidence.
You have done great
work explaining our
claim in previous lessons.
Now, it seems like there
is a little more to the
story that we’ll need to
investigate.
We want to present a complete scientific explanation, and
so we have to make sense of this new evidence.
3.1.1 WARM-UP

3.1.1 WARM-UP
Chapter 3 Question.
Over the next few days, we will be
investigating a new question:
How did a poison-level trait that
wasn’t always present in the
newt population become the
most common trait?
You will then add what we discover to
your explanations for Alex Young, the
head biologist.

MutationsYou will read parts of the article Mutations: Not Just for Superheroes in your Amplify Library. (25 min)
In order to answer the
Chapter 3 Question, you
will need to investigate how
traits appear and become
common in populations.
To begin, you will read an
article from an article set
(Mutations: Not Just for
Superheroes) that will help
you understand how new
traits are first introduced.
3.1.2 ACTIVE READING
Investigation Question:
How do new traits
appear in
populations?

The article will provide you
with an overview of
mutations.
Following this introduction
are articles about specific
cases where new traits
have appeared in real
populations.
Choose one of the
remaining three articles
to read and annotate.
You will have a chance to
discuss what you have
read with a partner after
reading.

Active Reading with a special emphasis
on making deeper connections
You have already learned a lot about natural
selection in this unit, so as you read the
article remember to look for places where
the new ideas can be connected to ideas you
have already learned.
Making connections while you read helps
your brain find a place for the new
information.
It helps you to better understand and use
the information you are reading about.

3.1.3 STUDENT DISCUSSION
DISCUSSING ANNOTATIONS
Share your annotations with your peers and revisit the strategy of making deeper connections.(10 min)

Return to the Investigation Question.
How did a poison-level trait that wasn’t
always present in the newt population
become the most common trait?
After reading the articles, take some time to reflect
on possible answers to our investigation question
with a partner. Be ready to share your thoughts.
mutation: a random change to a
gene that sometimes results in a
new trait

3.1.4 TEACHER
INTRODUCING THE HOMEWORK
Learn how to use the Mutation toggle in the Sim and prepare to revisit a population of
ostrilopes your have already studied. (3 min)
Mutation toggle and mutation
indicators in the Natural
Selection Simulation.
Open the Mutations Introduction mode.
Press NEXT until you reach the menu
for Ostrilopes.

3.1.4 TEACHER
Zoom in and find an
ostrilope in the
environment with a
mutation indicator (small
red circles with the letter
M inside).
You will notice this icon above
offspring that have traits that are the
result of mutations.
Let’s demonstrate turning fur mutations
on, using the Mutations toggle, and then
press RUN.

3.1.4 TEACHER
The mutations happen more often in
the Sim than in real life.
In reality, mutations that introduce
new traits are very rare. They cannot
be controlled or made to happen.
Mutation is a natural process that is always
occurring in the world.
Mutations in real life do not have an on and off
switch.
The Sim allows us to do this so we can learn more
about natural selection with and without mutations.

3.1.4 TEACHER
Connecting this Sim
activity to one from a
previous lesson.
These two populations of
ostrilopes should look
familiar—you investigated
them earlier in our unit.
The individuals in Population B all have traits for low fur, the population has low variation for
fur, and its environment is becoming colder.
To explore the effect of mutations on populations, you will investigate this population of
ostrilopes again, and this time you will have mutations turned on for fur traits.

3.1.4 HOMEWORK
OSTRILOPE POPULATION IN SIM
Label histograms according to whether the
population survived or died out when the
environment became colder in your earlier
Sim activity.

3.1.4 HOMEWORK
Predict what will happen to Population B
with mutations. You do not have to be
certain about what will happen because
you will have an opportunity to test this
in the Sim.

3.1.4 TEACHER
Run Sim and pay special
attention to the ostrilope fur-
trait histograms while the Sim is
running, and test the outcome
with mutations for fur traits
when the mutation is on and off
to see the difference.

3.1.4 HOMEWORK
Upload a Sim
screenshot of your
final histograms and
answer the reflection
questions on your
screens.

Introduction to Mutations

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