Human Evolution: A Comparison of the Genus Australopithecus and Homo

Explore these interactive timelines to

// Team A: compare characteristics of the genus Australopithecus and the genus Homo. In doing so, define criteria for your comparison by yourselves.

// Team B: Sum up the development from early hominins to Homo Sapiens based on the interactive timelines.

Timeline 1: Origins of Humankind

Timeline 2: Human Evolution Timeline

If you have time, you can also explore this interactive documentation for further independent learning: Becoming Human: an Interactive Documentary

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BBC World Series Podcast. DisUnited Kingdom – Understanding Brexit.

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‚ The effect of Britain’s decision to leave the European Union. What does the decision to Leave mean for Britain, for relations between EU countries and for the world?‘ is a quote from the BBC World Series Brexit podcast website. Today you’ll listen to different podcasts to understand the Brexit consequences for the different countries of Great Britain.

Listen to ‘your’ podcast and make notes to sum up

a)… the Brexit consequences and

b)… different positions on the Brexit mentioned in the podcast for ‘your’ country after listening. Click:BBC Understanding Brexit podcast website.

After listening, pair up with a member of the same team to work out a written summary of the podcast (text or appropriate form of visualization. A reader needs to understand your summary/ visualization after the first reading).

DisUnited Kingdom: Birmingham, England (A)

DisUnited Kingdom: Wrexham, Wales (B)

DisUnited Kingdom: Stirling, Scotland (C)

DisUnited Kingdom: Londonderry, Northern Ireland (D)

Population dynamics of predator-prey relationships

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Predation affects the population dynamics of both the predator and prey population. In this simulation you investigate predator-prey relationships over time and compare your findings with laboratory and field study results.

First work individually. Click the Simulation button in the bottom right corner. Familiarize with the simulation and the variables. Work out a trend that can be observed in the population cycles of predator and prey species and interpret the results if you change different variables.

Then pair up with a partner. Take it in turns to outline your results. Work out general model-based equations and principles of predator-prey relationships over time that can be concluded from the simulation. Eventually, evaluate pros and cons of data obtained in the laboratory, in a field study and in a computer based simulation.

 Weblink: Predator-Prey Simulation (you need to use the Google Chrome browser for this simulation).

 

Human Evolution: Making Sense of Ancient DNA

In May 2008, a pinky bone was found in a cave in Siberia (Wikipedia: Denisova Cave) and soon news reports enthusiastically claimed to have found a new human. Soon scientists had to revise their hypothesis and thinking due to new modern state-of-the-art molecular analysis, which lead to updates in the evidence for events in human history twice: in 2010 and 2015.

Team A:

Briefly sum up the significance of the discovery in the Denison Cave and explain the difference between the initial and recent classification of the discovery.

Team B:

You do not need a summary of the discovery, as you’ve already dealt with the topic in your  last exam and prepared to present the topic in class.

Your tasks are:

Explain the difference between the initial and recent classification of the discovery and outline how the method of PCR (Polymerase Chain reaction) can be useful in the investigation.

Here are the links to today’s resources:

Human evolution (Evolution 101, University of Berkeley).

Making sense of hominin DNA.

PCR animation I (Team B only)

PCR animation II (Team B only)

PCR information III (Team B only)

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DNA Microarray Chips

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DNA microarray chips are a technology that can be used to analyze gene expression patterns  and monitor the expression of thousands of genes simultaneously. Here are some brilliant resources for independent learning:

DNA Microarray at the DNA Learning Center

DNA Microarray (with an interactive lab exercise) at Learn Genetics, University of Utah

Using a DNA Microarray at Glencoe Biology online (animation and quiz)

Microarrays at Pearson Microbiology (animation and quiz)

 

p53: Molecule of the Year – Suggestions for independent learning

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In 1993 the protein p53 was awarded Molecule of the Year by the magazine Science. It was the time that scientists began to understand that complex cellular regulation mechanisms control the expression of the human genome. The human protein p53 is 393 amino acids long; the abbreviation stands for p for protein and 53 for it’s molecular mass (53 kilodalton). The protein regulates the cell cycle because it is capable of stopping the cell cycle temporarily to allow the repair of DNA damages. If repair mechanisms fail, p53 induces apoptosis (programmed cell death). This mechanism prevents genetic damage to be passed to further generations.

The main focus of the activities this week is put on a) evaluating the quality of website content and b) biological principles of complex human cell cycle regulation processes.

Procedure

Research on the biological role of p53. In doing so, find and evaluate the quality of several websites first (Tutorials: in English: Evaluate website content, University of Edinburgh || in German: Bewerten von Internetquellen, Universität Hamburg) and choose two sources for your work.

Create a Concept Map to illustrate the biological role of p53 (tutorial here).Only include new content in your concept map and avoid basic knowledge you’ve already learned about p53 in class.

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