Investigation #1
In which specific layer is the youngest fossil located in the diagram.
Layer A
A rock sample was analyzed in a lab and determined to have 88% potassium and 12% argon in the sample. Use the graph provided to determine how old the rock sample is.
0.25 billion years old
What trait do the Common Mormon Butterfly and the Common Rose Butterfly have in common?
The white stripe on the bottom wings.
What are the scientist testing in this investigation?
If the bees and hummingbirds pollinate the flowers with the modified petals more or less then the original flowers.
the chance that a specific outcome will occur out of a total number of outcomes
Probability
Based on the diagram, which site has the oldest fossils?
North America
A rock sample was analyzed in a lab and determined to have 60% potassium and 40% argon in the sample. Use the graph provided to determine how old the rock sample is.
about 1 billion years old
Why did the Common Mormon Butterfly develop white bands on its wings?
It was a mutation to increase survival so that its predators thought it was poisonous.
What does the negative value for the bees bar graph mean?
bees pollinated the "lipless" flowers less than the unmodified flowers.
the process of determining whether one rock, fossil, or event is older or younger than another
Relative dating
The fossil in the European layer C is dated to 100 million years ago. The fossil in layer D is dated to 300 million years ago. Based on the patterns shown, when might the fossil in North American layer 2 be dated?
200 Million years ago
A rock sample was analyzed in a lab and determined to have 25% potassium and 75% argon in the sample. Use the graph provided to determine how old the rock sample is.
About 2.5 Billion Years old
What kind of mutation would the white bands on the common Mormon Butterfly be considered?
beneficial mutation
Based on the data, which kind of flowers do hummingbirds prefer? How can we be sure?
According to the graph, hummingbirds prefer the "lipless" flowers. We can continue to test this by presenting them with both and see which type gets pollinated more.
a specific version or form of a gene
Allele
Scientists find a layer of rock that is rich in iridium. This layer is located between European layers D and E. Based on the patterns in the data, where would this layer be found in the North American layers?
Below Layer 3
A rock sample was analyzed in a lab and determined to have 5% potassium and 95% argon in the sample. Use the graph provided to determine how old the rock sample is.
About 5.1 Billion years old
give an example of a neutral mutation we talked about in class (It does not have to be from the investigation picture)
Varies
Different eye color
Attached and free earlobes
If the flowers developed a mutation for "lipless" petals, what would you expect to happen?
The flowers would be pollinated by hummingbirds more than bees.
the process through which individuals in a population with certain inherited traits are more likely to survive and reproduce than individuals with less favorable traits in a specific environment
Natural Selection
Use the diagram to give an example of relative dating
Answers vary. Examples:
layer 2 is older than layer 1
Layer A is younger than Layer B
Layers A & B are younger than any of the fossils in in North America diagram
If 2 samples were analyzed and one sample had 35% Potassium and the other had 50% argon, which sample is older?
The 35% potassium sample is about 2 Billion years old
The 50% Argon sample is about 1.4 billion years old.
So the 35% potassium sample is older.
Give an example of natural selection.
Bonus points if you can tie it to investigation #3.
Answers vary
Common Mormon Butterfly had a mutation for the white bands. This trait stuck around for future generations because it protected them from predators
Different colored moths during industrial revolution
longer tails on widowbirds
Why do you think bees prefer the unmodified flowers?
The "lips" on the flowers provide a landing platform for the bees to be on while they collect the pollen.
Explain the difference between independent and dependent variables
An independent variable is the one thing the scientist changes in the experiment. The dependent variable is what the scientist measures. It's what happens because of the change.