Artificial selection of maize as a bridging case to teach natural selection: a simulation proposal

Abstract

In this paper, we present a simulation of artificial selection of maize thatcan be used as a bridging case for the subsequent introduction of naturalselection in school. The proposed simulation takes up essential biologicalelements but also has a cultural meaning for the inhabitants of someregions of Latin America. After implementing a test of the simulation withsecondary school teachers, we identified fundamental ideas that areintroduced as a result of participating in the simulation: intentionality,recognition of variants, gradual process and population. These ideas arerelevant for understanding evolution as natural selection. Therefore, thesimulation could be used as a bridging case because it focuses theattention on relevant ideas for artificial selection and leaves aside othersthat are not productive.