It therefore brings together all of the areas of biology that a student has been exposed to , e.g., evolution, biochemistry, genetics, reproduction, and ecology. The New Synthesis by E. O. Wilson, the Belknap Press of Harvard Univ. Each student will need a container with a hole drilled in the top just large enough for a toothpick to pass through.
Small jars work well.
Two paper or plastic cups can be taped together and a small hole punched into one end. The area must be large enough such that the students cannot see the toothpick patches by merely standing in one place and looking around. This procedure is repeated in two other locations for parts two and three of the exercise. They do not have to be familiar with the theory of Natural Selection as this exercise can be used for reinforcement or inquiry. For students who have already completed a course in biology, this activity can be used to initiate discussion of evolution.