Question: How do different variations lead to evolution of species? We have learned that mutations and sexual reproduction can lead to variations. Variations that allow an organism to survive in its environment are considered adaptations. The variation with the best adaptation for the environment will survive and reproduce while the others will eventually die off. If the environment changes, a different variation may survive instead. For your final project you will model this in a lab assignment.
Background Information:
Pretend there is an organism on earth called a weezy. There are three variations of weezys: ones with two arms and hands with five fingers (weezy A), ones with one arm and hand with five fingers (weezy B), and ones with one arm and hand with three fingers (weezy C).

Weezys are eaten by smurfs. To protect themselves from smurfs, weezy's build towers out of rocks and climb up to the top of them. Because smurfs can’t climb, the weezys are safe if they manage to get to the top. However, weezys must build their towers quickly because smurfs are extremely fast. The ones who build their towers quickly enough survive, but the ones that are too slow usually get killed by smurfs.
In this activity, you will simulate the three variations of weezys in a population. You will measure how long it takes you to build the tower while pretending to be each type of weezy. You will do three trials for each weezy. As you are doing the activity, complete the data table below. When you are finished, answer the questions that follow.
Model:
Identify what you will use to represent the rocks for your tower. (You need 10)
Write your material here:
Describe how you will model weezy C.
I willto model weezy C.

Tower Building Time

Trial 1 time (seconds)
Trial 2 time (seconds)
Trial 3 time (seconds)
Average (seconds)

Weezy A
9.7
9.7
8.1
9.2
Weezy B
10.9
9.5
12

Weezy C
13.6
13.5
12.7

For extra credit, create and insert a graph of your data.

Analysis Questions
Directions: Use your data to answer the following questions.
Identify the weezy that built the tower the fastest. Explain why this weezy was able to build this tower the fastest.
The weezy that built the tower the fastest was Weezy.
This weezy built the tower the fastest because

Identify the weezy that was the slowest at building the tower. Explain why this weezy built so slowly.

The weezy that built the tower the slowest was Weezy.
This weezy built the tower the slowest because

3. Which of the following graphs shows how the Weezy population would change over time based on the current variations and environment?

Letter:

4. Right now you have Weezy A, B and C variations. Describe how a new “Weezy D” variation might enter the population in generations to come.

Weezy D may enter the population if there is a(n). This means

5. If Weezy D did enter the population, explain what would need to happen for it to continue to be part of the population. (Be sure to use the words harmful, neutral and/or beneficial).
If Weezy D entered the population would need to be . This would mean that Weezy D could

6. Explain how the population and variations of Weezys will change after years and years of being hunted by smurfs. Be sure to include evidence from your data and the background information to support your answer.

Over many years of being hunted by smurfs the variations of Weezys would be .
Weezy A would…
Weezy B would…
Weezy C would…
My evidence from the data is…

My evidence from the background information is…

This means that…

Grading Scale:

Standards
1
Not Meeting Expectations
(49%)
2
Partially Meeting Expectations
(69%)
3
Meeting Expectations
(84%)
4
Exceeding Expectations
(100%)
8.MS. LS3-1
Answered questions 4 and 5 but received little to no credit.
Half credit for questions 4 and 5.
Or
Full Credit for question 4 and no credit for 5
Or
Full Credit for question 5 and no credit for 4
Full Credit for Question 4 and missing part of explanation for question 5.
Full Credit for Questions 4 and 5.
8.MS. LS4-4
Answered questions 1,2,3 and 6 but received little to no credit.
Partial credit for questions 1,2,3, and 6
Or
Partial Credit for 3 out of 4 questions and full credit for the other.
Or
Full credit for 2 out of 4 questions and little to no credit for the others.
Full credit for 2 out 4 of the questions (1,2,3,6) and partial credit for others.
Full Credit for Questions 1,2,3 and 6