All
dogs descended from the gray wolf. But dogs are so different from wolves that
it seems difficult to imagine how one species led to another. How an organism
evolves has to do with the selective pressures it is exposed to in its
environment. In this activity, see what happens to two different populations of
wolves as different selective pressures are applied.
Cut apart the 24 cards from your "Wolf Deck" student handouts.
Appoint one member of your group to be the scorekeeper. The scorekeeper will
record the total value of each student's hand of six cards before the game
begins and after each round. The scorekeeper should also calculate the deck
average by summing all 24 cards before the game begins, and after the
5th, 10th, and 20th round.
Have the scorekeeper calculate the initial value of the deck and record
below. This represents the initial temperament of your wolf population.
Deal six cards. Each hand represents the collection of genes that contribute
to the temperament for one wolf. A hand with low value represents an aggressive
wolf while a hand with higher value represents a tamer animal.
Calculate the total of each hand. Follow the instructions below for your
group:
Wolf Group A
Due
to selective pressures, the wolves with the most aggressive genes do not
survive. To simulate this, the players who have the two lowest hand totals will
remark their cards with numbers on the cards of the other two players. Twelve
cards will be remarked.
Wolf Group B
Due
to selective pressures, the wolves with the most aggressive and most tame genes
do not survive. To simulate this, the players who have the highest and lowest
hand totals will remark their cards with numbers on the cards of the other two
players. Twelve cards will be remarked.
Shuffle all 24 cards together. This represents the mating of the wolves. As
in nature, some of the offspring from this mating have random genetic mutations
of their temperament genes. To simulate this, draw two random cards, keeping
track of where they came from in the deck. Throw a die for each card you have
removed and then change the value on the card (write the new number directly on
the card) according to the following table:
|
Die Result
1
2
3
4
5
6
|
Card Change
+1
-1
+2
-2
+3
-3
|
Return the cards back to their original place in the deck.
Deal six cards to each player. Repeat steps 5-7.
Play a total of 20 hands, recording the entire deck average after hands 5,
10, and 20.
When you have finished the game, answer the questions listed on your
"Examining the Game" student handout.
