Divide the contents of a large bag of different-colored candies randomly and approximately equally among the members of the group. Do not pick specific candy colors, but simply empty the contents of the bag onto a table and quickly divide the pile. If you are doing this exercise by yourself, divide the contents of the bag into five piles. Have each person compare the frequencies of each color in they pile with the frequencies in the original bag. Describe any differences in frequency between the pile and the original bag.

Key Concepts

Genetic Variation

Genetic variation refers to the differences in DNA sequences among individuals within a population. This variation is crucial for evolution and natural selection, as it provides the raw material for adaptation. In the context of the candy exercise, the different colors represent genetic traits, and the distribution of these colors can illustrate how variation occurs in a population.

Sampling Error

Sampling error is the discrepancy between the characteristics of a sample and the characteristics of the entire population from which it is drawn. In the candy exercise, when dividing the candies into piles, random sampling may lead to differences in color frequencies compared to the original bag. Understanding sampling error helps explain why the observed frequencies may not perfectly match the expected frequencies.

Frequency Distribution

Frequency distribution is a statistical representation that shows how often each value occurs in a dataset. In this exercise, comparing the frequency distribution of candy colors in the piles versus the original bag allows participants to analyze how the random division affected the representation of each color. This concept is fundamental in genetics for understanding how traits are distributed in populations.