HHMI BioInteractive Rock Pocket Mouse Answers

The HHMI BioInteractive rock pocket mouse model simulates natural selection and adaptation in populations of rock pocket mice, which are found mainly in rocky outcrops in the deserts of the southwestern United States and Mexico. In this model, we explore how the population evolves due to natural selection across various environmental conditions.

In this simulation, each child receives one allele from its mother and one allele from its father. The inheritance of fur coat color genes is modeled based on Mendelian laws of inheritance. Each mating pair produces four children, and the probability of a mouse dying from old age increases if it does not reproduce after 10 generations.

The model also simulates predation, where mice that cannot camouflage themselves have a higher chance of being predated when predators are present. In addition to predation, mice can move slightly in a random direction each generation. The fur color is determined by genes at a particular locus, with two alleles - A and a. Homozygous dominant and heterozygous genotypes result in dark fur color, while homozygous recessive results in light fur color.

The model allows users to investigate how the population evolves over time due to natural selection. By running the simulation, you can observe how the population changes in response to different environmental conditions and predator presence. This model is based on a lesson plan designed by HHMI BioInteractive and simulates the evolution of fur coat color changes in the population of rock pocket mice.

How does the model work?

* Each generation, each mouse has a chance to move slightly in a random direction.

* Mice that are over 10 generations old have a chance to die from old age if they do not reproduce.

* Mice can find a partner and produce four offspring with this partner.

* The probability of predation is based on the chance of predation and how well the mouse can camouflage itself.

* Fur coat color is determined by genes at a particular locus, with two alleles - A and a.

What do I learn from running the model?

By running the HHMI BioInteractive rock pocket mouse model, you can:

* Explore how natural selection shapes the population of rock pocket mice over time.

* Observe how predation affects the population and how camouflage helps some mice survive.

* Investigate how different environmental conditions affect the evolution of fur coat color in the population.

The HHMI BioInteractive rock pocket mouse model is a powerful tool for exploring natural selection and adaptation in populations of rock pocket mice. By running this simulation, you can gain insights into the evolutionary processes that shape populations over time.

Hhmi biointeractive rock pocket mouse answers