Evidence of Evolution

* Enduring Understanding 1.A: Change in the genetic makeup of a population over time is evolution.

- Essential knowledge 1.A.4: Biological evolution is supported by scientific evidence from many disciplines, including mathematics.

• a. Scientific evidence of biological evolution uses information from geographical, geological, physical, chemical and mathematical applications.
• b. Molecular, morphological and genetic information of existing and extinct organisms add to our understanding of evolution. Evidence of student learning is a demonstrated understanding of each of the following:
  • 1. Fossils can be dated by a variety of methods that provide evidence for evolution. These include the age of rocks where a fossil is found, the rate to decay of isotopes including carbon-14, the relationship within phylogentic tress, and the mathematical calculations that take into account information from chemical properties and/or geographical data.
  • 2. Morphological homologies represent features shared by common ancestry. Vestigial structures are remnants of functional structures, which can be compared to fossils and provide evidence for evolution.
  • 3. Biochemical and genetic similarities, in particular DNA nucleotide and protein sequences, provide evidence for evolution and ancestry.
  • 4. Mathematical models and simulations can be used to illustrate and support evolutionary concepts.
    • Learning Objectives:
      • LO 1.9 The student is able to evaluate evidence provided by data from many specific disciplines that support biological evolution.
      • LO 1.10 The student is able to refine evidence based on data from many scientific disciplines that support biological evolution.
      • LO1.11 The student is able to connect scientific evidence from many scientific disciplines to support the modern concept of evolution
      • LO 1.13 The student is able to construct and/or justify mathematical models, diagrams or simulations that represent processes of biological evolution.