Name: __________________ Date: ___________

The Egyptian Origami Bird ( ) lives in arid regions of North Africa. It feeds
on prom dates ( ) and drinks from Palm Springs. Only those
birds which can successfully fly the long distances between the sparsely spaced oases
will be able to live long enough to breed successfully. In this lab, you will breed
several generations of Origami Birds and observe the effect of various genotypes on
the evolutionary success of these animals.

Paper, tape, straws

Scissors
Coin
Six-sided die

1) Prepare ancestral bird:

a) Cut two strips of paper, each 5 cm long x 7 cm wide.
b) Label one H to represent the Head (anterior) region and one T to
represent the Tail (posterior) region of the bird
c) Tape each strip of paper 2 cm from either edge of the straw.
d) Refer to the image below to construct your bird
2) Breed offspring.
a) Each Origami Bird lays a clutch of three eggs (1 clone & 2 chicks with
mutations). Record the dimensions of each chick and hatch the birds
using these instructions:
i. The first egg has no mutations. It is a clone of the parent.


ii. The other two chicks have mutations. For each chick, flip your coin
and throw your die then record the results on the table.
 The coin flip determines where the mutation occurs: the
head end or tail end of the bird.
 The die throw determines how different mutations affect the
wing.
 Use the information in the table below to guide your bird
construction.
iii. Lethal Mutations:
 A mutation which results in a wing falling off of the straw,
etc. is lethal. Fortunately, birds are known to
“double clutch” when an egg is lost. If you should get a lethal
mutation, disregard it and breed another chick.

Coin Flip Die Throw

(determines where mutation occurs) (determines how the mutation effects the wings)
1 = The wing moves 1 cm toward the end of the straw
2 = The wing moves 1 cm away from the end of the straw
Heads = Head (anterior) wing mutation 3 = The length of the wing increases 1 cm
Tails = Tail (posterior) wing mutation 4 = The length of the wing decreases 1 cm
5 = The width of the wing increases 1 cm
6 = The width of the wing decreases 1 cm

3) Test each chick.

a) Choose 1 person in your group to ‘test’ your birds. This will reduce error
involved in throwing motion.
b) This person will, release the birds in a consistent manner from the same
location with a gentle, overhand pitch.
c) It is important to release the birds as uniformly as possible.
d) Test each bird twice, record each flight distance and average the two
distances for each chick.
4) Reproduction
a) The most successful bird is the one which can fly the farthest.
b) Mark which chick was the most successful on your table.
c) The most successful bird is the sole parent of the next generation.
d) Continue to breed, test, and record data for as many generations as you
can in the time allotted.
5) Stop producing generations at least 10 minutes before the end of class and
begin comparing offspring with other groups and answering questions.
Name: __________________ Date: ___________

Use the table to record the dimensions of all chicks, and the most successful bird in each generation.

nd rd
Generation Parent/ Clone 2 Chick 3 Chick Most Fit
Dimensions Flight Dimensions Flight Dimensions Flight (Circle)
(cm) (cm) (cm)
P Anterior wing 5 cm x 7 cm 1 Anterior wing 1 Anterior wing 1
dimensions dimensions dimensions Clone
Posterior wing 5 cm x 7 cm Posterior wing Posterior wing
nd
dimensions 2 dimensions 2 dimensions 2 2 Chick
Anterior wing 2 cm Anterior wing Anterior wing
rd
to head to head to head 3 Chick
Posterior wing 2 cm Average Posterior wing Average Posterior wing Average
to tail to tail to tail
F1 Anterior wing 1 Anterior wing 1 Anterior wing 1
dimensions dimensions dimensions Clone
Posterior wing Posterior wing Posterior wing
nd
dimensions 2 dimensions 2 dimensions 2 2 Chick
Anterior wing Anterior wing Anterior wing
rd
to head to head to head 3 Chick
Posterior wing Average Posterior wing Average Posterior wing Average
to tail to tail to tail
F2 Anterior wing 1 Anterior wing 1 Anterior wing 1
dimensions dimensions dimensions Clone
Posterior wing Posterior wing Posterior wing
nd
dimensions 2 dimensions 2 dimensions 2 2 Chick
Anterior wing Anterior wing Anterior wing
rd
to head to head to head 3 Chick
Posterior wing Average Posterior wing Average Posterior wing Average
to tail to tail to tail
F3 Anterior wing 1 Anterior wing 1 Anterior wing 1
dimensions dimensions dimensions Clone
Posterior wing Posterior wing Posterior wing
nd
dimensions 2 dimensions 2 dimensions 2 2 Chick
Anterior wing Anterior wing Anterior wing
rd
to head to head to head 3 Chick
Posterior wing Average Posterior wing Average Posterior wing Average
to tail to tail to tail
 nd rd
Generation Parent/ Clone 2 Chick 3 Chick Most Fit
Dimensions Flight Dimensions Flight Dimensions Flight
(cm) (cm) (cm)
F4 Anterior wing 1 Anterior wing 1 Anterior wing 1
dimensions dimensions dimensions Clone
Posterior wing Posterior wing Posterior wing
nd
dimensions 2 dimensions 2 dimensions 2 2 Chick
Anterior wing Anterior wing Anterior wing
rd
to head to head to head 3 Chick
Posterior wing Average Posterior wing Average Posterior wing Average
to tail to tail to tail
Name: __________________ Date: ___________

Discussion Questions

1) Did your experiment result in better flying birds? _______________________

2) Explain the ways that this activity models natural selection.

3) What are the dimensions of your most successful surviving bird?

4) Evolution is the result of two processes: variation and selection.

a) How did your experiment produce variation among the offspring?

b) How did your experiment select offspring to breed the next generation?

4) Compare your youngest bird with your neighbor’s youngest bird.

a) Compare and contrast the wings of other birds with your own.

b) Explain why some aspects of the birds are similar.

c. Explain why some aspects of the birds are different.

5) Predict the appearance of your youngest bird’s descendants if:

a) the selection conditions remain the same, the longest flying bird survives and
reproduces.

b) the selection conditions change the worst flying bird survives to produce the most
offspring.
Make a line graph that shows the distance of the most successful bird for each generation and include
the following:
 Title for your graph.
 Axis labels of Generation Number on the x-axis and Distance with units (in parentheses) on the
y-axis