The Making of the Fittest: Natural Selection and Adaptation

The Making of the Fittest: Natural Selection and Adaptation

  • Overview
  • Cast
  • Crew
  • Recommendations

Status

Released

Release Date

Oct 12, 2011

Runtime

0h 11m

Genres

Documentary

User Score

50%

Original Title

The Making of the Fittest: Natural Selection and Adaptation

Production Companies

Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Pixeldust Studios

Director

Sarah Holt

Description

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.