Name: ______________________________
Period______
Webquest: Variation, Selection, and Modern Genetics
Part I: What is Genetic Variation? Web Address: http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/variation/sources/
1. What is variation?_____________________________________________________________
2. What is a mutation and what are some possible ways they occur?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
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3. What affects whether or not a mutation is considered advantageous or disadvantageous?
_____________________________________________________________________________
4. What is recombination and when does it occur?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
5. What are the sources of variation in a population? A._______________________
B._______________________
Part II: What is Selection? Web Address: http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/variation/artificial/
1. How does nature “select” organisms to survive?___________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
2. How are natural and artificial selection similar? _____________________________________
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3. What are three examples of organisms that were selectively bred for specific traits?
_______________________________________________________________________________
Part III: Got Germ X? Web Address: http://tinyurl.com/GotGermX
Sometimes genetic variation increases the chance of survival for one species at the expense of
another. Read this abstract (a summary) of an article and answer the questions.
1. Through the process of natural selection, and extensive use of ____________________, bacteria are
becoming stronger.
2. What is another product people may misuse to increase bacterial resistance? Think: what else do
we use frequently that kills bacteria?____________________________________________________
3. Describe how natural selection is occurring in these bacteria.________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Part IV: Artificial Selection Web Address: http://www.learner.org/courses/essential/life/session5/closer1.html
Sometimes people decide what genes get passed on in certain organisms. We call this artificial
selection, or selective breeding.
1. What plant is said to be the ancestor of corn? ______________.
2. List two other examples of crops that humans have “domesticated”.
a. ___________________________________________________________________
b.___________________________________________________________________
3. What is the downside to artificial selection?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
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Part V: Cloning Web Address: http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/tech/cloning/whatiscloning/
Modern genetics also allows for entire organisms to be duplicated or cloned.
1. What is cloning?_____________________________________________________________________
2. Compare and contrast identical twins: naturally created vs artificial embryo twinning.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
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3. Compare and contrast: SCNT vs natural reproduction.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
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Part VI: Genetic Engineering Web Address: http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/archive/gmfoods/
1. What is gene transfer technology?_____________________________________________________
2. What are the concerns associated with using GTT to genetically modify plants?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
3. Why is genetic engineering (using GTT) compared to selective breeding? (how are they alike)
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