General Project Information
Project Classification
- Grade Category: 10-12
- Team Size: 2
- Subject Area: Engineering/Computer Science
- Project Type: Experimental
- Language: English
Project Summary
- The project aimed to use an original computer program to simulate the process of evolution by natural selection, and determine how environmental processes affect the evolution of populations. The organisms chosen for the populations were mechanical pendulum-clocks, modeled as collections of heritable data (clock parts) stored in matrices analogous to genomes. The evidence found by the project supported the model of punctuated equilibrium, and also discovered how factors such as mutation rate, genome size, and population size affect the evolution of populations.
Tools & Skills
Software Tools
- Adobe Dreamweaver CS3
- Adobe Illustrator CS3
- Code::Blocks
- Dropbox
- FileZilla
- GIMP 2
- GNU C++ Compiler
- Microsoft Excel 2007
- Microsoft Powerpoint 2007
- Microsoft Word 2007
- Notepad++
- XAMPP
Hardware Tools
- Laptop PC (Intel C2D T5750 @ 2.0 Ghz)
- Desktop PC (Intel PD 820 @ 2.8 Ghz)
- Desktop PC (AMD A64X2 4000+ @ 2.1 Ghz)
- Desktop PC (Intel C2D E8400 @ 3.6 Ghz)
- Desktop PC (Intel C2Q Q6600 @ 2.4 Ghz)
- Desktop PC (Intel C2Q Q6600 @ 3.0 Ghz)
- Digital SLR (Sony A100 with Minolta 50mm Lens)
Special Skills
- C++
- CSS
- Javascript
- PHP
- XHTML
Miscellaneous
Sources of Inspiration
- The Blind Watchmaker (BBC Movie)
- Evolution IS a Blind Watchmaker (Youtube Video)
Awards
- SABC Participant
- WWSEF Gold Medal
- WWSEF Best of Life Sciences
- WWSEF Best Written Report (Senior Division)
- WWSEF Award of Merit (Invitation to CWSF)
- WWSEF Award of Excellence (Best-In-Fair)