Five fingers of evolution - Paul Andersen

How can a "thumbs up" sign help us remember five processes that impact evolution? The story of the Five Fingers of Evolution gives us a clever way of understanding change in gene pools over time.

Lesson by Paul Andersen, animation by Alan Foreman.

[icypick]

TLDR for students whose teachers are asking what the fingers represent:
Pinky: Chance can happen, resetting the gene pool
Ring: Non random mating can determine how often people with certain genes reproduce. If they’re unfavorable, the odds of them mating and passing on their genes are low
Middle: Mutation can add a new gene that changes up the frequency of all other genes
Index: Gene flow/movement can change the frequency of the gene pool if people with different genes come to a new area and other people leave, taking their genes with them.
Thumb: Adaptation will change genes to adapt to the surrounding environment

[Mitzness]

"Sex: a reshuffling of the genetic deck." Love it.

[deborahleopo]

EVERYONE LOVES MR ANDERSON...EVEN THOSE WHO HAVEN'T MET HIM haha. His videos have been so helpful.

[fandju]

*i feel dumb i thought this vid was about how we got 5 fingers

[GelatinParty]

"Redheads can make a whole family of redheads..."
THE WEASLEYS

[existing-is-pain]

anyone else hate being in quarentien and having to do their work online

[hardinvalleyacademy]

This is brilliant! Students have responded so well to this method! I can't wait to use it in my Botany/Zoology class next semester!

[n.c.lightning]

*continues to search middle finger for the M*
Can't find it.... must be.. EVOLUTION.


Oh wait... no... it's the M in the name... not on the actual finger- carry on.

[addyal]

Great and clear explanation. Thumbs up!

[jerrycai]

holy crap, wish this video existed when I was in school

[peytonrather]

Anyone else recoginse his voice before looking at the title for his name? Mr. Andersen!!!

[bossneilsen]

Paul Anderson is the King! Hope your channels allow you to influence the world as you want. Thanks champion,

[SajalKishoreRastogi]

Let's reshuffle the genetic deck - if u know wat i mean ;)

[caseynilsson]

One of the best informational videos, it really helped me understand (i'm a very visual person)!
Thank you for making it!!

[jebc]

Great video, congratulations this is a incredible form of explain the evolution with a simple hand.

[MissAnitaGuerra]

I loved the presentation. It was clear and adorable!

[albertvasquez]

i feel dumb i thought this vid was about how we got 5 fingers

[ANATHEMANIEL]

This guys from TED are great, they defenitely should spread their videos throughout the schools all over the world. I just think they should make a video on thermodynamics, its 4 laws formulas still don't drill well through my head. T_T.

[noyz-anything]

"Hey, wanna go back to my place and shuffle my deck?"

[brindade]

Ted Ed is really the best YouTube channel according to me.