Publish at November 20 2024 Updated November 18 2024
Is it possible to understand evolution using a simulation? Even more so, by one dating back to 2006? It would seem so, much to our astonishment. "Gene Pool", created by Jeffrey Ventrella, is an educational simulation designed to explain how living species have evolved according to their environment.
Here, users are presented with colorful little robots called "swimbots". These can be fully customized at the start of the game and left in a homogeneous environment or, on the contrary, with a very heterogeneous mix of creatures.
The bots will feed, move and seduce each other according to different parameters. As a result, after around 30 minutes, students should notice changes taking place before their very eyes, with certain mutations caused or not by them.
The simulation has some very interesting options for following dramatic situations (fighting for food, prolific creatures, mutual love, etc.). It will be possible to create diverse environments where robots will be attracted by those that are really different or not at all. 0
Games" should last a minimum of half an hour, and in absolute terms will continue for as long as time cannot be accelerated (one of the software's shortcomings). Nevertheless, this can be an opportunity to encourage learners to let the simulation run at home to see what happens next. It should be noted, however, that there is no predation as such, and so evolutions will not be based on this; which removes an important part of the mutations in nature.
The Lille academy page with a sheet for using the simulation in the classroom
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