E-Portfolio Signature Assignment- Lab Report

Introduction
Charles Darwins theory of natural selection began nearly 200 years
ago. Darwins theory was that favorable variations will increase in frequency
in a population. Darwin did research all over the world. In this Lab report I
will be drawing comparisons of Darwins Finches research to that of my own
in an experiment that we conducted as a class. In Darwins Finches research
he theorized that the finches he studied in the Galapagos islands are that all
14 species he found must be closely related and he deducts that the
individuals with the best set of adaptations for each islands habitat would be
most likely to survive and breed. This theory in essence is the basis for the
experiment we conducted in this lab report. My initial hypothesis is that just
as Darwin theorized the individuals with favorable variations will increase in
population. I believe that the tweezers used in this experiment have the
favorable variations and that they will increase the frequency and
population.
Materials and Methods
This experiment will consist of various tools, such as tweezers, tongs,
hair clips, chop sticks, etc. There will be a total of eight tools used and a
group for each set of tools. We will have 60 seconds to pick up as many
sunflower seeds as possible using only the tools provided. At the end of the
round, the top 3 tools that collected the most sunflower seeds will increase
their population by one tool and the 3 tools that collected the least amount
of sunflower seeds will lose a tool from their population. Thus showing that
the tools with the more favorable variations will increase in population.
There will be 5 rounds in all. At the end of the 5 rounds the tool with the
highest population will validate the theory of natural selection.
Results:
Beak Types
Tongs
Chip Clips
Lg. Hair Clips
Binder Clips
Tweezers
Clothes Pins
Chopsticks

Beginn Roun Roun Roun Roun Roun

ing
d1
d2
d3
d4
d5
3
5
7
5
7
6
4
5
5
6
5
6
5
5
5
5
5
5
3
2
2
1
1
1
5
6
6
6
6
6
4
2
1
1
1
1
5
5
3
4
4
4

Small Hair Clip

Increase/Decrease of Instruments in Population.

8
7
6
5

Beginning
Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 5

Round 4

1
0

Conclusion
The conclusion of the hypothesis supported my theory that the
tweezers would have the highest frequency and pick up the most seeds. In
the first round there were only 5 tweezers in the population. By the end
there were 6 tweezers left. So the tweezers gained a new member and
increased the frequency in each round. The tweezers finished in a 3 way tie
for most members in the population at the end of the experiment. The only
possible errors that could have occurred in this experiment would be
incorrect data in that the seeds were not properly counted or they were not
properly picked up. Basically, any possible cheating could have impacted
the results. Based on the results I reviewed for similar experiments that
were done, the results in this experiment are closely related to those that
were replicated. Thus validating the results in this experiment.
Discussion
The scientific method is an approach to research whereby a problem is
identified. A hypothesis is stated and that hypothesis is tested by collecting

and analyzing data. Scientists and Doctors use the scientific method in their
fields. In this activity we used the scientific method in that we created a
hypothesis and tested it in this experiment to see if we could validate our
hypothesis using the results of the experiment. The theory of natural
selection is that favorable variations in a species will increase in frequency in
a population. The underlying assumptions being the variation (favorable,
unfavorable) , inheritance, competition and differential reproductive success.
The theory of natural selection is supported in this activity because we can
clearly identify which tools are the more favorable in its environment and
which are not favorable. The favorable tools thus increase frequency in the
population.
References
Grant, Peter R. education@wildscreen.org.uk
Robertson, Jeremy earthwatchinstitute.org
Vitali, Liana science.vitali.edu