Prom 1

Shirley Prom
BIO 105 G14
Eric Osborn
October 26, 2014
Lab 5 Report
Differential Selection

Introduction:
This lab was designed to imitate how phenotypes of an organism (humans in this case) can affect
whether they survive and reproduce. There are three mechanisms by which natural selection can
impact which individuals will be successful in passing on their genes to the next generation.
The experiment used for this lab focused on one of the mechanisms, which was differential survival.
Differential survival for this lab was based on the organisms ability to avoid toxic plants, spot danger
and locate food, and their health and nutritional level. The responses to the three parts of this
experiment will determine by natural selection which students in the class will be more likely to
survive and pass their genes to the next generation.
Materials and Methods:
1. PTC paper (one for each student in class)
2. One sign with words printed on one side of it, the two words were different and were in two
different font sizes
3. Recording paper and pencil for each student to record their individual results

Each student retrieved a piece of PTC paper and were instructed to put the paper in their mouths. Then
students were asked to record on their paper whether or not they could taste anything other than paper.
The students that could taste something other than paper were instructed to record ten offspring, and
those who did not taste anything, recorded only five offspring. Then, the students were asked to stand
in the back of the classroom and remove any eyeglasses. The instructor stood at the front of the
classroom with a sign. The sign was turned over to reveal two words and the students were asked to
return to their seats and record the two words. The students that correctly identified the words were
directed to record ten offspring, while those that identified part of the words recorded only five
offspring. Those students who could not identify the words recorded zero offspring. Lastly, the students

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were asked to record what they had eaten for breakfast that morning. The students compared what
they ate to how many of the major food items they had consumed that morning. The major food types
included: cereals, milk or dairy, fruit, vegetables, and meat. Students were instructed to record ten
offspring if they had eaten at least three of the food types, while those that ate only one or two of the
food types recorded only five offspring and those that did not eat breakfast that morning recorded zero
offspring. After all three parts of the experiment were completed, each student was asked to total their
number of offspring from the three parts of the experiment. The results were recorded for the entire
class by the instructor onto the white board.

Results/Data Analysis:
The results indicated that only two students had acquired between 21 and 25 offspring, four students
had between 16 and 20 offspring, another four students has between 11 and 15 offspring, and only two
students had between six and ten offspring (see Table 1).

Discussions:
The results of the experiment provided a more realistic understanding of what selected for and selected
against means. The natural selection portrayed in this experiment gave a more hands on understanding
of the overall concept. Our class results indicated that there were two students that were most likely to
reproduce and pass on their genes. While approximately half of the class fell in the medium range and
were somewhat likely to pass on their genes, and only two students indicated that they would not
reproduce and pass of their genes. So, clearly individuals rely on the selecting agents such as taste,
sight, and nutrition to survive and reproduce. I liked this experiment because it was more of a realistic
way of understanding how phenotypes can effect survival of not just humans but all organisms on this
planet.

Conclusion:
The responses to questions asked in each of the three parts of the lab experiment did determine by
natural selection which students in the class will be more likely to survive and pass their genes to the
next generation. However, it did also reveal the number of students that would not be selected for and
what their survival and reproduction would potentially be if the phenotypes tested were the selecting
agents for this lab. Overall this lab was my favorite.

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Table 1
Number of Offspring
26-30
21-25
16-20
11-15
6-10
0-5

Number of students in the class with

this number of offspring
0
2
4
4
2
0

Class Offspring Results

After all three of the lab parts were completed, each student was asked to total the number of offspring
they recorded. The results are posted in the above referenced table.