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The Making of the Fittest: Natural Selection and Adaptation

2011-10-12
5
en 11m
Documentary
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.

Writer

Sarah Holt

Writer

Ethan Herberman

Director

Sarah Holt

Writer

Sean B. Carroll

desert natural selection mice animal evolution

Status

Released

Countries

  • United States of America

Companies

  • Howard Hughes Medical Institute
  • Pixeldust Studios

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