In the lab we saw how different alleles can help and organism or put them in harm's way. We also saw how environmental disasters and different environments can affect organisms. Specifically, the organisms were fish living in a lush and green stream. The green fish were able to camouflage into the seaweed and algae very well, so they avoided being eaten up by hungry predators. The orange and red fish were also able to pass unnoticed by predators. However, the yellow fish were extremely noticeable against the green environment and were found by bigger fish very quickly.
An Environmental Disaster
Despite the previous well being of the green skinned fish, the environment turned on it heals and a disaster occurred. Factory waste was dumped into the stream which killed all the seaweed and algae hence revealing the sand and rocks. The rocks and sand provided great camouflage for the yellow, orange, and red fish, but the green fish were not as lucky. Without the seaweed and algae, they had nothing to camouflage into, and therefore, no protection from predators. In effect, the alleles for green skin started to disappear and the alleles for red and yellow skin started to show up more.
Suggestions
If this lab were to be done again in the future, I would make it so that in addition to the yellow fish, the orange fish would also not be able to camouflage into the seaweed and algae. Also, I would give the yellow fish more alleles for means of defense (whatever that may be). These means of defense would only be able to protect the yellow fish 50% of the time. If the yellow fish were about to be put into the morgue, the student would flip a coin to determine whether the means of defense succeeds--heads it does, and tails it doesn't.
An Environmental Disaster
Despite the previous well being of the green skinned fish, the environment turned on it heals and a disaster occurred. Factory waste was dumped into the stream which killed all the seaweed and algae hence revealing the sand and rocks. The rocks and sand provided great camouflage for the yellow, orange, and red fish, but the green fish were not as lucky. Without the seaweed and algae, they had nothing to camouflage into, and therefore, no protection from predators. In effect, the alleles for green skin started to disappear and the alleles for red and yellow skin started to show up more.
Suggestions
If this lab were to be done again in the future, I would make it so that in addition to the yellow fish, the orange fish would also not be able to camouflage into the seaweed and algae. Also, I would give the yellow fish more alleles for means of defense (whatever that may be). These means of defense would only be able to protect the yellow fish 50% of the time. If the yellow fish were about to be put into the morgue, the student would flip a coin to determine whether the means of defense succeeds--heads it does, and tails it doesn't.
