Transcript Jurassic Island

Jurassic Island
Zach Johnson
Graduate Project
Foundations of American Education
Fall 2010
Part 1: The beginning
You are Dr. Sam Scientist, world-renown paleontologist.
You are the foremost expert in the study of dinosaurs, and
your witty yet informative books top the best-seller lists
around the globe.
Dr. Sam Scientist
You are at your dig site, where you are currently
unearthing the bones of a magnificent Tyrannosaurus Rex.
You look at the mighty creature and pause, as you often do,
to reflect on the amazing process of evolution that created
such a beast
Which of the following best describes evolution?
 A change in inherited traits in a population over time
 A change in the number of humans on the planet
 A process that allows organisms to obtain energy from
food
Part 2: The Island
After you unearth the Tyrannosaurus Rex, you contemplate
where you’re going to put it in your luxurious mansion. The
dining room? Your bedroom? Perhaps by one of your many
swimming pools? All of a sudden, a man approaches you
and shouts “Dr. Scientist! I have a proposition for you!”
The man approaches you and says “My name is Sir Edward
Moneybags, and I have constructed an island where
dinosaurs roam free, and tourists can come and experience
them first hand. I need a dinosaur expert like yourself to
come and endorse the park. Won’t you come along?”
Sir Edward Moneybags
You reply, “Mr. Moneybags, can’t you see I have a
dinosaur to take care of here? Its scientific name is
Tyrannosaurus Rex. That means it has both a genus AND a
species name. Don’t you know that?
What is the genus name for Tyrannosaurus Rex?
 Tyrannosaurus
 Rex
 All of the above
“Yes, yes, Dr. Scientist. Everyone knows how a scientific
name works. But wouldn’t you like the chance to see a
real, live, dinosaur?”
“Hmmmm,” you think. “That WOULD be more interesting
than trying to fit another T-rex skull through my front door.
Let’s go!”
You board Sir Moneybag’s helicopter, and take off at once
for his island.
Helicopter Ride
On your flight over the island, you note the vast diversity of
plants and animals on the island. Knowing that natural
selection is the cause of this diversity, you reflect on what
you already know about natural selection.
Which phrase is related to natural selection?
 Cause and Effect
 Survival of the Fittest
 What goes up, must go down
The helicopter lands, and you step out into a lush jungle.
As you exit the helicopter, you find yourself face to face
with a gigantic Apatosaurus!
“They’re magnificent, aren’t they?” Sir Moneybags asked.
“They’re the only population of Apatosaurus in the entire
world!”
In Biology, which of these is an example of a population?
 All of the birds living in the world
 The number of granite rocks in an area
 All of the wolves living in northern Minnesota
“Come along, Dr. Scientist” Sir Moneybags says. “We can
head over to the lab and you can see the work that we’re
doing with dinosaur genetics”
“Hooray!” you say. “There’s nothing I love more than
genetics!”
How is genetic information stored in organisms?
 Stored by cells
 Stored by ribosomes
 Stored by DNA
What is the basic unit of DNA?
 Nucleotides
 Phosphates
 Chromosomes
Sir Moneybags leads you to a computer in the laboratory.
The room is filled with scientists dutifully working away at
different lab stations. He points at a computer.
“We use this machine to sequence and discover dinosaur
genes” he says.
Which of these options list the genetic structure from the
most simple to the most complex?
 Nucleotide Pairs>Genes>Chromosomes
 Chromosomes>Genes>Nucleotide Pairs
 Genes>Nucleotide Pairs>Chromosomes
As you stare at the computer screen, one of the sections of
DNA begins to flash red.
“What’s that?” you ask Sir Moneybags.
“Hmmmmm…” Sir Moneybags says. “It appears to be
some sort of mutation in the dinosaur’s DNA.”
How do mutations cause evolution?
 They can (rarely) produce beneficial traits
 They can change existing genes
 Both of the above
Sir Moneybags closely studies the computer screen.
“Why, this mutation seems to have affected the structure of
this dinosaur’s brain. It seems like this mutation has made
this dinosaur,” his eyes narrowed, “even smarter than we
are.”
Which of these is not a type of mutation?
 Insertion
 Reduction
 Deletion
“You mean to tell me one of your dinosaurs mutated to be
smarter than humans?” you ask. “Which dinosaur is it?”
Sir Moneybags pauses, and looks up at you slowly.
“Why, it’s our Tyranosaurus Rex” he says.
Suddenly, the ground below you begins to shake in slow,
steady beats…almost like the footsteps from a gigantic
dinosaur…
All of a sudden, a monstrous Tyrannosaurus Rex bursts into
the room!
Tyrannosaurus Rex!
You run for cover as fast as you can, but a lifetime of
training in science allows you to reflect on evolution even
as you flee for your life. You notice the short, stubby arms
of the Tyrannosaurus Rex are homologous structures to
your own arms.
What is a homologous structure?
 A structure shared because of similar evolutionary
pressures
 A structure shared due to a common ancestor
 A structure that is different due to evolution
The Tyrannosaurus Rex roars, and bites down on Sir
Moneybags. The gigantic dinosaur eats him in 2 bites!
“Sir Moneybags!” you shout. You escape from the building
and run towards the jungle, trying your best to escape the
Tyrannosaurus Rex
A dinosaur like Tyrannosaurus Rex is an example of what?
 Omnivore
 Herbivore
 Carnivore
You run deep into the jungle surrounding the genetic
laboratory. The air is filled with the sounds of chirping
birds. You remember what you learned about birds being
related to dinosaurs, including the one that nearly ate you.
Which of the following can cause speciation?
 Genetic Divergence
 Reproductive Isolation
 All of the above
You run through the jungle for the helicopter, dive inside
and shout at the pilot “Go! Go! Go!” The helicopter whirs to
life and takes off. You breathe a sigh of relief.
You relax back in your chair on the helicopter, and start to
relax. “Pilot, take me as far away from here as you can”
you say. The person flying the plane does not respond.
“Pilot?” you ask, tentatively. “Did you hear me?”
You look up at the cockpit.
THE END