Astro

Released on: 2011-10-12

The Making of the Fittest: Natural Selection and Adaptation

The rock pocket mouse is a living example of Darwin's process of natural selection. Evolution is happening right now everywhere around us, and adaptive changes can occur in a population with remarkable speed. This is essential if you're a mouse living in an environment where a volcanic eruption can reverse selective pressure in nearly an instant. The film features Dr. Michael Nachman, whose work on pocket mice reveals a complete story, from ecosystem to molecules, that demonstrates how random changes in the genome can take many paths to the same adaptation-a colored coat that hides them from predators.

Documentary

Production Companies:

Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Pixeldust Studios

Production Countries:

United States of America

Astro

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