Evolution Teaching TidbitNJIT

Bhavani BalasubramanianMaria StankoEllen Wisner

Brandeis UniversityMelissa Kosinski-Collins

Jim MorrisDan Perlman

© Dan Perlman Ecolibrary.org

Context:

Midway through a course in Evolution, Ecology, Animal Behavior,

or Introductory Biology

Background:

Variation, Inheritance, Fitness, Natural Selection, and Adaptation

© Dan Perlman Ecolibrary.org

Learning Goal:Understand a long-standing

problem in evolutionary biology

Learning Objectives:By the end of this tidbit,

you should be able to

1. Define altruism2. Explain why altruism is a complication for evolution

by natural selection

Write down the first three words or phrases that come to mind

when you hear “natural selection”.

Natural Selection

If a trait is advantageous for the individual in terms of survival

and/or reproduction, it will become more common in the population over time by natural selection.

Is the trait advantageous for the individual?

Could it have evolved by natural selection?

Explain why or why not.

Trait: ClawsAdvantageous?Natural selection?

© Dan Perlman Ecolibrary.org

Trait: Flower colorAdvantageous?Natural selection?

© Dan Perlman Ecolibrary.org

Trait: Alarm callingAdvantageous?Natural selection?

© Ron Wolf flickr.com

Altruism: a trait or behavior that reduces an individual’s fitness and increases another individual’s fitness

Trait: SterilityAdvantageous?Natural selection?

© Dan Perlman Ecolibrary.org

1-minute paper:Define altruism and explain why it is a complication for evolution

by natural selection.

© Dan Perlman Ecolibrary.org

Learning Objectives:1. Define altruism2. Explain why altruism is a complication for evolution by natural selection

© Dan Perlman Ecolibrary.org

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