1. Variation Lab

2. Procedure Set up your lab sheet. Define the following words:
Adaptations
Variation
Selection Pressures
Measure and record the following (in mm):
You and your partner’s hands
5 mealworms
20 bean seeds
When measuring complete add to class data on screen.

3. Procedure
Create tables for class data & graph the data, both on graph paper. Attach to your lab sheet.
Answer the following questions on the back of your lab sheet.

4. Looking at each of the graphs & tables, which one has the most reliable data? Which one has the most valid data?
For each organism how do the variations you measured match the organism's environment (help the organism survive in its natural environment)?
For each organism, name two selection pressures that might act upon that organism in its natural environment that would shape its characteristic that we measured.
For each organism, create a selection pressure (not mentioned above and one that could really happen) and explain what effect it will have on the population of that organism (use a sample graph as part of your explanation).
Is having a great amount of variation, very little variation or somewhere in between, the best in nature? Explain using your graphs and the ideas behind selection pressure & adaptations.
CONCLUSION: Write a short paragraph explaining this question: How do patterns of variation relate to evolution?