Simulating Evolution by Natural SelectionBy Ryan JahansoozAssisted by Zac Foster, Hunter Wolfbear Drobenaire, and Tyler VossBIO 001 Lab Section 16 10/23/2013Abstract:This lab was an experiment involving the evolutionary mechanics that play a role in the survival of species in a hunter vs. prey environment. This was simulated by having students equipped with different tools for survival briefly fight over collections of colored beans in different environments. Each trait or environment existed to give certain advantages or disadvantages to the hunter and prey. It was found that beans whose color matched that of their environment were not found as often as those who contrasted heavily. Also, the hunters whose equipment was weakest quickly starved to death, while those who had better tools survived and reproduced. By the end of the experiment, the population of camouflaged beans rose while the contrasting beans fell towards extinction. This evidence supports the theory of evolution and natural selection.Introduction:The theory of evolution and natural selective is composed of several key ideas on how life changes over time. The key thought is that through random mutations in the alleles of each new generation of a species, new physical and mental traits will arise. If the trait is beneficial, the holder will survive longer and thus reproduce more and spread the trait more than those without it. If the trait is bad, the holder will likely die before the flawed genes can be passed on. Through this process, there are several specific variations of selection: stabilizing, disruptive, and directional. Stabilizing selection increases the frequency of holders with the average value of a trait so that there are no extreme versions of it. Disruptive selection splits the trait into two extremes that then become the average for the species. With directional selection, the holders of the extreme trait tend to be much fitter than those without it and begin to overcome those without the trait.There is also a system in place that allows some competition between some traits that would otherwise be completely dominant. This is known as sexual selection vs. artificial selection. Sexual selection is when an organism has a trait that allows it to reproduce more effectively by being extra fertile, being more appealing to the opposite sex, or another reproductive advantage. Artificial selection would be when an organism has a trait that makes survival easier. With this system the usefulness of a trait can be split into two categories. A trait can either be practical and allow the holder to survive longer by having physical characteristics that allow it to gather more food or defend itself, or make the holder more appealing to the opposite sex and therefore more likely to reproduce even if it does not live as long. An example of this would be when a species of fish with a brilliant display of scales easily attracts many mates, but is the first to be eaten by a predator because it cannot blend in with its environment.In this same case, many unattractive fish will survive because they were not eaten and be able to mate normally. In this lab, there will be a simulation of natural selection. There will be predators and prey, and both must adapt to survive. The prey is a variety of beans of different colors and sizes that live in different environments. The predators are vicious students armed with advanced tools that allow them to capture the beans. The prey with the best camouflage traits will surviveto reproduce, while the beans that stand out will die off. The humans with the best tools will eatwell and reproduce, while those who cannot catch as much will starve to death. This will represent how natural selection works in nature.Methods and Materials:The experimental procedures for this lab were adapted from a previously supplied protocol There were no noticeable deviations from protocol. All acts in the simulation were derived from our own primal bean- hunting instincts and our relationships with our classmates. All rivalries were legitimate and survival was a true, realistic goal as only the strongest and most dexterous hunters would survive.Results:Our hypothesis for this experiment was that the brown pinto beans would be the most abundant because the color brown seemed to be the best camouflage for the both environments. Unfortunately, the pinto beans did not perform as well as we had hoped in the grass, though they did fare well in the dirt. As for the predators, the spoon became dominant over both other types of predators due to its ability to easily scoop up prey quickly, as opposed to the knife and fork. The fork did survive through each trial, but it became obvious that the spoon was the best tool in the dirt habitat thanks to the dirt’s flat surface and the ability to carry multiple beans at once without dropping them. The knife failed in every aspect, and was the first predator to die off. Specific numbers can be found in Fig 5 and Fig 6.The grass habitat differed from the dirt habitat because unlike the dirt, it was a different color and had a different surface. The predators initially were equal in distribution, but as each generation passed, the spoon wiped out both the knife and fork. We thought that the green peas would survive the most due to their color and size, which made them hard to see and hardto catch. We also thought that the white beans would be the least successful, but even they did not fare as poorly as the pinto beans.Grass environments and dirt environments each have different characteristics that affect the survival rate of the prey. In each experiment, the spoon was the best predator. The prey thatsurvived the most for the dirt environment was the green pea, followed by the brown pinto bean. This is due to the type color environment the experiment was set in. In the grass environment, the green pea was also the best type of prey, followed by the black bean. In both trials, the green pea survival rate was the highest thanks to its size and color. The pinto beans were able to survive in the dirt habitat, but not the grass habitat. We attributed this to its abysmal camouflage. Each environment allowed different characteristics to prosper, which was good for the experiment. The predators all started the same initially, but as the generations proceeded, natural selection took its course and favored the spoon over fork and very much over the knife. Fig 1 also shows that the