Unit 4 Reflection

        Our group started the "Coin Sex" Lab off by looking at different genes in humans, and then proceeded to flip coins, randomly determining these traits, then looking at data tables after multiple coin flips, determining the averages for each possibility, such as the chance of two heterozygous parents having an albino child. Most of the results that our group had matched the amount of possible offspring through the dihybrid cross simulation. Even so, the limit of using probability to predict offspring is quite big, as you are not predicting the exact traits of the child, but possibly millions of different genotypes for a child.
        This follows into our main unit, explaining that how even though probability is not exact, genetic variety is created from this, allowing for adaptations to the environment, including disease immunity. These possibilities are furthered even more so when genetic mutation comes into play, allowing for an infinite amount of different genotypes and phenotypes in a single offspring. In fact, the infographic project highlights this by not only having us research variety further, but grading each other's infographics, which allows us to be taught the content even more.

Why is Sex so Great? : Infographic

Is Sexual Reproduction Important?

        During the reading "Dr. Tatiana's Sex Advice to All Creation", Olivia Judson explains how many things in nature would not be existent if sexual reproduction did not exist. This includes how crickets chirp at night, and how the mighty horns of deer antlers grow. The reading also pointed out that the only way genes are mixed is through sexual reproduction. Mutations are an exception, however, creating completely new genes not possible anywhere else, for good or for bad. The reading specifically pointed out that sexual reproduction was the only way to adapt to the environment. This means that when a sexually reproductive species evolves into one that is asexually reproductive, it flourishes until the environment changes, but becomes extinct suddenly due to the lack of variety in the species. This means that the genes heavily influence the rate of survival and reproduction in a species. Another point given shows that a balance between the two needed things in the wild are very hard to balance out. For example, some birds can have huge, long tails in order to seduce females, but die to predators in lack of survival instinct. The opposite effect can happen in a similar manner. Along with this, the reading suggests that ways to seduce other organisms in a species are much more varied than the predictable amount of ways in order to avoid predators. This is only kept varied with mutations, which the book states are raw evolution which help vary any species, asexual or sexual. Much, however, is kept unclear in the reading, such as the question of how frequently mutations occur, or what type of species have used mutations to survive asexually, if at all.