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1 April 2014 Evolving Better Cars: Teaching Evolution by Natural Selection with a Digital Inquiry Activity
Anne M. Royer, Elizabeth H. Schultheis
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Abstract

Evolutionary experiments are usually difficult to perform in the classroom because of the large sizes and long timescales of experiments testing evolutionary hypotheses. Computer applications give students a window to observe evolution in action, allowing them to gain comfort with the process of natural selection and facilitating inquiry experimentation. The lesson described here uses a free online program, BoxCar2D, to demonstrate evolution by natural selection in a virtual population of cars. Students will be introduced to the principles of evolution and conduct independent inquiry projects on key predictions from evolution — including convergence, local adaptation, and the role of mutation in adaptation.

©2014 by National Association of Biology Teachers. All rights reserved. Request permission to photocopy or reproduce article content at the University of California Press's Rights and Permissions Web site at www.ucpressjournals.com/reprintinfo.asp.
Anne M. Royer and Elizabeth H. Schultheis "Evolving Better Cars: Teaching Evolution by Natural Selection with a Digital Inquiry Activity," The American Biology Teacher 76(4), 259-264, (1 April 2014). https://doi.org/10.1525/abt.2014.76.4.8
Published: 1 April 2014
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6 PAGES

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KEYWORDS
evolution
Inquiry
NATURAL SELECTION
scientific method.
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