a. Survival of the Fittest: HIV Immunity

• Students will be given a numbered vial and exchange fluids with 5 other students in the class. One vial will contain sodium hydroxide that is not visible and acts as simulated HIV. This will be followed by a simulated “HIV test” in which the students will use a drop of phenolphthalein, and any vials that have had sodium hydroxide transferred to them will turn pink indicating contamination with HIV. A few students will also have vials that contain vinegar and represent HIV immunity. Students follow up by tracing back to determine who transferred the virus to them and who is immune. The impact of HIV immunity and its application to natural selection will also be discussed.

b. Analysis of Human Traits

• Students apply concepts of statistics and probability to analyze actual human conditions or disorders. Punnett squares, pedigrees, Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, and the chi-square test are applied to human mutations. Following analysis, students will determine whether traits occurring from each condition could be advantageous in specific environments.

Items included in this lab are listed below.

Phenolphthalein, 0.1 M sodium hydroxide, White vinegar.