Lesson 7: Do all kinds of organisms have a lot of genetic diversity?

High Altitude Living Storyline Unit

What did we do in the last class?

At the end of lesson 6 we saw that there is a lot of diversity in our human populations.

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Do we think this is true for all organisms?

Navigation

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Turn and Talk

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What did we figure out in the last lesson?

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Do we think humans are unique? Is genetic diversity important to all organisms or is this unique to human populations?

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Experience the Phenomenon

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Experience the Phenomenon

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Investigate the Phenomena

GDp - Genetic Diversity of Populations

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Population genetic diversity representing original expected heterozygosity values - what proportion of the population is heterozygous at that particular locus.

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GDp normal - Normalized population genetic diversity

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This accounts for differences in sample size (number of individuals they sampled) and number of Loci (number of genes with more than one allele possible that they studied in that species). This allows the GDp of all of the different organisms compiled to be “standardized” and comparable

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Investigate the Phenomena

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Investigate the Phenomena

Position (definitions used by this study)

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• Core - taken from an area of the species range where they have been found persistently and reliably over time
• Edge - sampled from an area of the range where it is contact with another (unsuitable) habitat
• Sub_edge - sampled a distance from the edge; not in contact with another habitat but also not considered a core sample
• Endemic - sample taken from the only place the species exists; typically a small geographically isolated area
• Isle - sample taken from small (< 200 sq miles) area of land surrounded by water (but species is not endemic to the area)
• Island - sample taken from larger (> 200 sq miles) area of land surrounded by water (but species is not endemic to the area)

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Investigate the Phenomena

Use the sort function to look for patterns

1. Click in the top left corner to highlight the entire sheet

2. Click the Data drop down menu, then choose “Sort range, then “Advanced range sorting options”

3. Choose how you want to sort your data by changing and/or adding columns to the sort

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Explain the Phenomena

Alone Zone

As you read, try to find information that helps answer one or both of these questions:

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What causes populations to have very high diversity or very low diversity?

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Is it important to have genetic diversity?

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Explain the Phenomena

Use the sort function to look for patterns and make some predictions

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Explain the Phenomena

Alone Zone

Look over the previous models and Gotta-Have-It Checklists you’ve developed.

List the important components of the models we’ve developed as a class that are necessary to explain how genetic diversity is maintained in populations and why it is important.

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Navigation

With your small group

Create a list of species, populations of species, or trait variation in populations of humans or other species you would be interested in trying to explain.

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You may also list any unanswered questions you have that you would like to investigate more.

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What’s Next?

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