May the Fastest Larva Win! Inquiry-based Evolution and Food Preference Experiments

 

Kathleen Nolan , Alexander Braun, Kevin Kim, & Clement Kairouz

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 2012, Volume 33

Abstract

An experiment was conducted by students in the St. Francis College Biological Evolution course in which they “raced” fruit fly larvae on agar Petri plates to determine which were the fastest. The “FAST” and “SLOW” larvae were placed in separate vials, and were allowed to breed. The larvae in the next generation were then raced again in an attempt to see if speed could be selected for. Subsequent student experiments included varying the type of food provided. In this mini-workshop, participants “race” wild-type fruit fly larvae on a Petri dish to see which type of sugar or sugar substitute they prefer.

Keywords:  evolution, selection, inquiry, food preferences, fruit fly larvae

New Mexico State University (2011)