The RQH posits that parasites adapt to specifically infect the most common host genotypes in a population. We developed this activity so that students could test this prediction and, in doing so, work through a classic model of host-parasite coevolution. The Red Queen Hypothesis (RQH) predicts that coevolution between hosts and parasites acts to maintain genetic variation through time. They personally discover, through the fate of their own card hands, the rapid rate of reciprocal adaptation and the potential for host-parasite interactions to maintain diversity. Students work in small groups using playing cards to generate the coevolutionary trajectories of hosts and parasites. We developed it in order to provide students with a test of the Red Queen Hypothesis for the maintenance of genetic variation, which we discuss in more detail in the next section. Here, we introduce a hands-on, inquiry-based activity to help students understand host-parasite coevolution.

It is a challenging topic to teach via active laboratory exercises due to the complexity of balancing two or more interacting, adapting players. In spite of this potential utility as a teaching tool in classrooms, Thompson ( 2010) notes that coverage of coevolution in biology textbooks is lacking. In interactions between species, evolutionary optima are forever shifting in response to changes in the biotic environment (Jaenike 1978 Thompson 2005 Thanukos 2010). Moreover, coevolution powerfully contradicts the common notion of evolution as progressing towards a higher goal. Cases of coevolution demonstrate that evolution can occur over the course of only a few generations in response to continual change in the biotic environment. Instruction in coevolution can thus work to dispel the misconception that evolution acts only over long time-scales in response to abiotic changes, such as glaciation. It is pervasive, diverse, and very rapid. Coevolution is the reciprocal evolution of interacting species. Thanukos ( 2010) recently made a compelling case that instruction on the topic of coevolution could tackle many of the conceptual hurdles that students face in understanding evolution. Currently, the conceptual nature of evolution is notoriously difficult to teach, and the topic is fraught with misconceptions and complexity (Bishop and Anderson 1990 Alters and Nelson 2002 Dagher and Boujaoude 2005 Hokayem and BouJaoude 2008 Cunningham and Wescott 2009).

Education in evolutionary biology must grow to match our increasing awareness of the centrality of this field. For example, the evolutionary medicine movement seeks to incorporate evolutionary thinking into medical and pre-medical training (Nesse et al.

There are more and more calls for the incorporation of evolutionary principles into applied fields (Denison et al. We now recognize evolution as a unifying framework for the biological sciences. Since its origins in the latter half of the nineteenth century, the field of evolutionary biology has made enormous strides. Moreover, the game emphasizes infectious diseases as major selective forces, a fascinating topic for todayвЂ™s students. This is a fun, active, and simple exercise to introduce students to the complex topic of host-parasite coevolution. We include detailed instructions, discussion topics, and simple modifications to extend the game to additional topics. The game is suitable for students ranging from upper-level high school through college. They use these data to conduct an independent test of the prediction that host-parasite coevolution maintains genetic variation. Students collaborate to collect data on the change in frequency of host and parasite genotypes (card suits) through time. In the described game, students take on the role of either host or parasite, and they use playing cards to act out reciprocal selection.

Instruction in coevolution is therefore an excellent way to teach students evolutionary principles. Here we present a hands-on, inquiry-based classroom activity to study host-parasite coevolution. Although we are increasingly aware that an understanding of evolution is critical to all biological fields and to scientific literacy, evolution remains a challenge in the classroom.

Eductional parasite game