Evolution

Suggested Time : 15 days

Objectives

Students will:

explain how the scientific theory of evolution is supported through various disciplines and evidence, such as:
- fossil record, comparative anatomy, comparative embryology, biogeography, molecular biology, and observed changes over time
recognize patterns of evolution, such as:
- coevolution, convergent evolution, adaptive radiation, and punctuated equilibrium
identify basic trends in hominid evolution from early ancestors, from six million years ago to present, including:
- brain size, jaw size, language, and manufacturing of tools
explain how continuous investigations by multiple scientists and new scientific information has influenced theories over time
describe how scientists’ discoveries contributed to the understanding of the origin of life on Earth, such as those posed by:
- Oparin, Miller and Urey, Margulis, Fox, and Pasteur
identify conditions contributing to the origin of life on Earth, such as:
- organic molecule synthesis, Earth’s early atmosphere, chemical evolution, and Endosymbiotic theory

Benchmarks Covered:

L.15.1 (High) - Explain how the scientific theory of evolution is supported by the fossil record, comparative anatomy, comparative embryology, biogeography, molecular biology, and observed evolutionary change.
L.15.13 (Moderate) - Describe the conditions required for natural selection including: overproduction of offspring, inherited variation, and the struggle to survive, which result in differential reproductive success.
N.1.3 (Low) - Recognize that the strength or usefulness of a scientific claim is evaluated through scientific argumentation, which depends on critical and logical thinking, and the active consideration of alternative scientific explanations to explain the data presented.
L.15.1 (High) - Explain how the scientific theory of evolution is supported by the fossil record, comparative anatomy, comparative embryology, biogeography, molecular biology, and observed evolutionary change.
L.15.8 (Moderate) - Describe the scientific explanation of the origin of life on Earth.
L.15.10 (Moderate) - Identify basic trends in hominid evolution from early ancestors six million years ago to modern humans, including brain size, jaw size, language, and manufacture of tools.
L.15.13 (Moderate) - Describe the conditions required for natural selection including: overproduction of offspring, inherited variation, and the struggle to survive, which result in differential reproductive success.
L.15.14 (Moderate) - Discuss mechanisms of evolutionary change other than natural selection, such as genetic drift and gene flow.
L.15.15 (Moderate) - Describe how mutation and genetic recombination increase genetic variation.
N.1.3 (Low)- Recognize that the strength or usefulness of a scientific claim is evaluated through scientific argumentation, which depends on critical and logical thinking, and the active consideration of alternative scientific explanations to explain the data presented.
L.15.4 (High) - Describe how and why organisms are hierarchically classified and based on evolutionary relationships.
L.15.5 (High) - Explain the reasons for changes in how organisms are classified.
L.15.6 (Moderate) – Discuss distinguishing characteristics of the domains and kingdoms of living organisms

Essential Questions:

What evidence do scientists have to support the theory of Evolution by Natural Selection?
What mechanisms result in a change in population beyond natural selection?