Source Institutions
Source Institutions
Add to list Go to activity
Activity link broken? See if it's at the internet archive

In this online activity, learners discover how random variation influences biological evolution. Biological evolution is often thought of as a process by which adaptation is generated through selection. While it is recognized that random variation underlies the process, emphasis is usually placed on selection and resulting adaptation, leaving a sense that it is selection that drives evolution. This simulation highlights the creative role of random variation, offering a somewhat different perspective: that of evolution as open-ended exploration driven by randomness and constrained by selection, with adaptation as a dynamic, transient consequence rather than an objective.
- Under 5 minutes
- 5 to 10 minutes
- free per student
- Ages 14 - adult
- Activity, Simulation
- English
Quick Guide
Materials List (per student)
- Computer with internet connection
Subjects
-
Earth and Space Science
- Earth's History
-
Life Sciences
-
Evolution
- Mechanisms of Evolution
-
Evolution
Informal Categories
- Animals
- Nature and Environment
Audience
To use this activity, learners need to:
- see
- read
- use mouse
Learning styles supported:
- Involves hands-on or lab activities
Other
This resource is part of:
Access Rights:
- Free access
By:
- Grobstein, Paul
Rights:
- All rights reserved, Serendip, 2012