California Academy of Sciences: Color Vision Genetics Evolution Simulation

In this lesson, students will participate in a natural selection simulation, flipping pennies to mimic the probability of passing on certain traits.

The traits are the three genes for color-vision, found on the X chromosome. In the simulation, students will simulate six generations of primates, and track how the gene pool changes over time. The activity loosely mimics some of the mechanisms that led to the evolution of our own improved color vision.

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Science Topics
Biology, Evolution
Middle School, High School, Educator
7th Grade, 8th Grade, 9th Grade, 10th Grade, 11th Grade, 12th Grade

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