Publications [#229688] of Mohamed A. Noor
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- Heil, CSS; Manzano Winkler, B; Hunter, MJ; Noor, JKF; Noor, MAF. "Witnessing Evolution First-hand: A K-12 Laboratory Exercise in Genetics and Evolution Using Drosophila." American Biology Teacher 75.2 (2013): 116-119. [8], [doi]
(last updated on 2025/06/14)Abstract:
We present a laboratory exercise that leverages student interest in genetics to observe and understand evolution by natural selection. Students begin with white-eyed fruit fly populations, to which they introduce a single advantageous variant (one male with red eyes). The superior health and vision associated with having the red-eye-color allele confers a fitness advantage, and the students can watch the spread of the allele within the population. The increasing numbers of red-eyed flies they observe over generations demonstrate evolution by natural selection. The students concurrently learn genetic principles, including basic inheritance and X-linkage.