What We Did
The purpose off this project was to teach us about how different species evolve, the process of evolution, and how different species are classified. This was achieved by giving us a variety of different types of hardware pieces and asking us to create a backstory about how the pieces evolved from a common ancestor and eventually split into many different types of species. The concepts were further developed during a lab where the goal was to determine the origin of our DNA. This tied in with the hardware "evolution" by providing a connection between the hardware pieces and our lives. Using the knowledge gained throughout the project, we kept tweaking and changing the story of the hardware evolution until we came up with a plausible final cladogram.
Concepts
Evolution - The gradual change in an organism over time
Natural Selection - A process where only the organisms best adapted to their environment will survive to have offspring
Adaptation - A trait that has been altered to better suit an organism's environment
Mutation - A random change in a gene or trait
Competition - Conflict between two organisms or species for one resource
Reproductive Isolation - Differentiation of reproductive organs
Behavioral Isolation - Differentiation of mating patterns
Geographic Isolation - Differentiation of location preventing mating
Temporal Isolation - Differentiation of breeding cycles
Natural Selection - A process where only the organisms best adapted to their environment will survive to have offspring
Adaptation - A trait that has been altered to better suit an organism's environment
Mutation - A random change in a gene or trait
Competition - Conflict between two organisms or species for one resource
Reproductive Isolation - Differentiation of reproductive organs
Behavioral Isolation - Differentiation of mating patterns
Geographic Isolation - Differentiation of location preventing mating
Temporal Isolation - Differentiation of breeding cycles
Our Project
Reflection
Overall, this project was difficult at first but got easier overtime, At first I found the project very confusing because the instructions were in my opinion loose and vague. The concept of creating an evolution backstory based on bolts and screws did not make much sense to me. However, as more information was learned, it was easier to apply these concepts to more obscure objects like the hardware pieces. This project had a couple bumps along the way, but also went smoothly at times. My group and I worked well together, and that definitely made the project easier. We also excelled at time management. The project was done in plenty of time, so we didn't have to stress about the deadline. One of the harder parts of the project, as previously mentioned, was the issue of vague instructions. This made the project difficult to get started, and hard for us to get momentum going. I also personally could have done better with distractions. When things got confusing I would end up talking to other groups instead of working it out within my own. However despite the troubles we faces. my group and I still produced a great final product, and eventually got a great handle on the concepts taught during this project.