Natural Selection Experiment
kit #91
In the 1950s, Oxford University scientist Dr. Bernard Kettlewell studied the changes in England's peppered moth population. Over a hundred year time period, the population of peppered moth shifted from being primarily light-colored moths to dark-colored moths. Dr. Kettlewell reasoned that predatory birds fed on more light-colored moths because they were more easy to spot against the pollution-darkened tree bark. This meant that the dark-colored moths survived in greater numbers, and the genes for their dark coloring were passed down to future generations.
Using Dr. Kettlewell's study as the basis for experimentation, students conduct two simple quantitative lab activities that demonstrate the effects of environmental pollution on nature.
Scientific Concepts
• Replicate the "peppered moth" study in the lab
• Simulate predator-prey relationship
• Illustrate Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection and industrial melonism
• Collect data and draw conclusion concerning natural selection and environmental pollution
Kit includes reusable supplies for 30 students.
- Replicate the "peppered moth" study in the lab
- Simulate predator-prey relationship
- Illustrate Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection and industrial melonism
- Collect data and draw conclusion concerning natural selection and environmental pollution
Content List in Natural Selection Experiment is as follows:
| Quantity | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Teacher’s Guide |
| 30 | Student Data charts |
| 3 | Environmental Trays, black |
| 3 | Environmental Trays, brown |
| 1 | Resealable bags, pkg |
| 3 | Moths, simulated, pkgs |
| 3 | Squares, pkgs |
- Number of students
- 30
- Number of groups
- Maximum 6 groups per period
To complete this kit requires one ~50-minute class period.
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