Laboratory Activities to Support Student Understanding of the Molecular Mechanisms of Mutation & Natural Selection

The molecular basis of evolution is an important and challenging concept for students to understand. In a previous article, we provided some of the scientific background necessary to teach this topic. This article features a series of laboratory activities demonstrating that molecular events can alter the genomes of organisms. These activities are most appropriate for undergraduate students in Honors Biology, Genetics, or Molecular Biology courses. Student laboratory instructions are included to allow students to conduct the activities, make observations, interpret the results, and draw conclusions.