Computer Assignment #1: Modeling Evolution
Introduction: This assignment will involve using computer programs
on the web to complete graphs and tables as described in Ch. VI of your
lab manual, and writing a short (one page or less) answer to a question.
The graph/table part of the assignment can be completed in groups of up
to six students. The answer to the question must be completed by
each individual. The assignment is worth 30 points and is described
in detail in your lab manual; additional comments are given below.
Goals: the goals of this assignment are to have you learn the
different patterns of evolution predicted by the different ways natural
selection can affects a trait coded by a single gene: the dominant having
highest fitness, the recessive having highest fitness, heterosis, and underdominance.
Lab Manual Chapter: The assignment is described in detail in
Chapter VI of your lab manual. You should READ THIS CAREFULLY and
follow the instruction as they are explained in that chapter. This page
will just point out a few key points and clarify what you need to know,
for exams, based on this assignment; reading this page does NOT substitute
for reading the lab manual instructions!
Some Important Points About the Assignment
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To complete the assignment, you must first understand the different ways
natural selection can affect a trait coded by a single gene with two alternate
alleles, and you must understand genetic drift. This information has been
presented in the lecture notes. Click
here to review the different forms of natural selection presented in Week
3, Lecture 1 (the different forms are the dominant having highest fitness,
the recessive having highest fitness, fitness codominance, heterosis, and
underdominance.) Note that this section of the lecture also has
information on this assignment. Click
here to review genetic drift, presented in Week 3, Lecture 2.
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For all of the assignment EXCEPT the very last part, in which you write
a paragraph describing a situation of natural selection that fits one of
the graphs you use, you may work in groups of up to six students; if you
work in a group different group members must be in charge of different
parts of the assignment, as directed in the lab manual. If you work in
a group, please note that it is crucial to see ALL the results of
the first part of the assignment, in which you draw graphs and make tables,
BEFORE you try to complete the second part of the assignment, in which
you determine situations that would give you a particular graph. So if
you work on parts of this separately from each other BE SURE TO ARRANGE
TO MEET in time to get all the information on the first part of the assignment
from each other BEFORE going on to the second part of the assignment!
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Note that if you choose to work alone rather than in a group, you are still
responsible for handing in the whole assignment.
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For exams you are responsible for the following from this assignment:
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The information you are expected to learn in the sections of the instructions
that say "What you should learn" under the instructions for each graph
and table.
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You should be able to draw and/or recognize the kind of graph of allele
frequency versus time that would be expected for the situations you are
studying (natural selection in which the dominant has the highest fitness,
natural selection in which the recessive has the highest fitness, fitness
codominance, heterosis, underdominance, genetic drift.)
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You should be able to answer, and know the information from, the five questions
at the very end of the computer assignment in the lab manual (given where
it says " Once you have completed the computer assignment, you should be
able to answer the following questions.") ONE of these questions will
be given, word for word as written in your lab manual, as an essay question
on the first exam I won't tell you which; I'll pick one at random when
I write the exam. You should read these questions CAREFULLY, ask me if
there's anything about them that you do not understand, and prepare to
be able to write a clear, complete essay on any one of them for the first
exam. NOTE that I will be happy to look over possible answers in advance
-- e-mail them to me and I'll respond. This essay question will be worth
10- 15% of the first exam and information from the questions I don't use
for the essay question will also be asked as additional questions on the
exam, so this is worth paying attention to!
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We will discuss the outcome of this assignment during lab of Week 4. Each
lab group will be expected to present an explanation of the "What You Should
Learn" Section for ONE graph/table. Your group's assignment is given
on the lecture schedule. In addition, you will have an opportunity
to ask questions about the results of the assignment
Click here to return to the course syllabus