Environmental Effects on Phenotype Lab

 Explore how environment shapes observable traits with two hands-on virtual experiments designed for AP Biology students. This interactive lab demonstrates that genes don't act alone. Environmental factors can dramatically influence how genetic information is expressed.   Two Complete Experiments:   Experiment 1: Hydrangea & Soil pH   - Plant genetically identical hydrangea seeds in soil with different pH levels (4.0-8.5)   - Watch flowers bloom in colors ranging from deep blue (acidic) to bright pink (alkaline)   - Discover how aluminum availability affects anthocyanin pigment expression   - Same genes, dramatically different phenotypes!   Experiment 2: Temperature-Dependent Sex Determination   - Incubate reptile eggs (ZW or ZZ genotypes) at temperatures from 26°C to 34°C   - Observe how incubation temperature influences sex ratio in offspring   - Track trial data with exportable CSV for data analysis   - Learn why some reptiles rely on environment rather than chromosomes alone   What You'll Learn:   Phenotypic plasticity - How one genotype can produce multiple phenotypes   Experimental design - Identify independent, dependent, and controlled variables   Data collection - Record and export experimental results for analysis