Overview
For this project, we learned about evolution through a metaphor using hardware like screws and nails. Over a long process and many revisions, we created an evolutionary story that connected all of the hardware pieces together and explained how they evolved from each other and specifically, why evolution happened. We then created a cladogram to show these relationships.
Another part of this project was a small investigation into a real life organism. My partner and I investigated the platypus and found out about why the platypus has evolved and how it has adapted to acquire the traits that it has.
Another part of this project was a small investigation into a real life organism. My partner and I investigated the platypus and found out about why the platypus has evolved and how it has adapted to acquire the traits that it has.
Hardware Cladogram
Below is our cladogram presentation. We organized all of our hardware by characteristics such as screws, being made out of plastic, nails, and circular objects.
The Platypus Project
Below is our presentation for the investigation that we did on the platypus. Overall, we found that the platypus is a very mysterious animal, as it has traits similar to mammals, reptiles, and it lays eggs. We decided to make a fun game to show platypus evolution, which can be seen on the last slide.
Content
Evolution: the process through which organisms have changed to diversify themselves from earlier organisms
Adaptation: a change in an organism
Speciation: creation of a new species through processes like temporal isolation, geographic isolation, and reproduction isolation
Natural selection: the process in which some members of a species have variations, and they survive and reproduce to pass on those beneficial traits
Artificial selection: artificial breeding to create organisms with desired traits
Cladogram: a tree diagram showing relationships between organisms
Organism Classification: How organisms are classified and this gives us universal ways to talk about organisms
Domain- whether an organism is single or multi celled
Kingdom- how an organism's cells obtain food
Phylum- based on similar physical characteristics
Class- based on more specific similar physical characteristics
Order- organisms grouped together based on a taxonomic key
Family- more specific physical characteristics and traits than orders
Genus- an organism's generic name which separates it from other members of its family
Species- most specific, members of a species have similar structures and can reproduce
Adaptation: a change in an organism
Speciation: creation of a new species through processes like temporal isolation, geographic isolation, and reproduction isolation
Natural selection: the process in which some members of a species have variations, and they survive and reproduce to pass on those beneficial traits
Artificial selection: artificial breeding to create organisms with desired traits
Cladogram: a tree diagram showing relationships between organisms
Organism Classification: How organisms are classified and this gives us universal ways to talk about organisms
Domain- whether an organism is single or multi celled
Kingdom- how an organism's cells obtain food
Phylum- based on similar physical characteristics
Class- based on more specific similar physical characteristics
Order- organisms grouped together based on a taxonomic key
Family- more specific physical characteristics and traits than orders
Genus- an organism's generic name which separates it from other members of its family
Species- most specific, members of a species have similar structures and can reproduce
Reflection
One peak, or something good about this project, was my groups critical thinking and creativity skills. I thought that we did really well in coming up with stories together about our hardware. We all supported each other with ideas and connected our stories together so they made sense. In the platypus project, my partner and I were also very creative, in representing the general evolutionary lineage of the platypus in a game. One pit, or something that could've been better, was some member's work ethic. Some of our members had trouble staying on task, but I do think the rest of us managed to make sure that everyone was working most of the time, so we did still manage to finish everything. Another peak was the fact that I learned a lot more about how to research things like evolution. I had to find out what sources were credible and which sources would provide me with valid info for things like why a platypus has venomous spurs. We couldn't use some sources because they were either biased or the statements made were not based on facts. For example, one platypus evolution explanation was based off of creationism, with no scientific evidence to back it up. While this viewpoint is still valid, we had to refrain from using it in this scientific environment. Another pit was the amount of time we spent doing the same thing over and over on the cladogram project. It got kind of repetitive and boring, which led to a decrease in interest in the project. This could've been improved if we found ways to be more creative or add to the project, which was something that some groups did.