Origami Bird Simulator: A Teaching Resource Linking Natural Selection and Speciation

Abstract

The origami bird is a resource for teaching natural selection. A previous study incorporated the Gamete Mutation Box into the original protocol to assist in understanding the link between DNA mutation and natural selection. Having revised the protocol, we developed computer simulation software, called the Origami Bird Simulator (OBS), for teaching the connection between these two processes and speciation. In this paper, we investigate the effectiveness of the protocol modification and integrating OBS into the protocol of previous study. OBS enables students to witness the speciation process in allopatric origami bird populations through geographic isolation and following reproductive isolation. Results of tests before and after the students' experiment suggest that this new protocol enhances their understanding of the linkages between mutation, natural selection, and speciation.