March 11-12

Mutation Nation & Bird Beak Adaptations 🦜🔬

📅 Lesson Overview:
Today, we completed Mutation Nation Notes through direct instruction, discussing how mutations and adaptations influence the survival of organisms. Tomorrow, we will watch a video on evolution, and on Tuesday, March 18, we will complete the Bird Beak Adaptations Lab to apply what we’ve learned.

📝 Mutation Nation Notes (Completed Today)

1️⃣ What is a Mutation?

• A mutation is a permanent change in DNA that can be beneficial, harmful, or neutral.

• Examples:

  • Good Mutation: Webbed feet on ducks help with swimming.

  • Bad Mutation: Genetic disorders like cystic fibrosis.

  • Neutral Mutation: Differences in eye color.

2️⃣ How Do Mutations Affect Evolution?

• Some mutations lead to adaptations, which improve an organism’s ability to survive and reproduce.

• Example: Zebra stripes help camouflage them in a herd, confusing predators.

• If a mutation helps an organism survive, it is passed on to future generations through natural selection.

3️⃣ Charles Darwin & Natural Selection

• Darwin’s observations in the Galápagos Islands helped him develop the Theory of Evolution.

• He noticed that finches had different beak shapes depending on their food source.

• Natural Selection: Organisms with the best-suited traits survive and pass them on to offspring.

🎥 Evolution Video (Scheduled for Tomorrow)

• Students will watch a BBC documentary on evolution and answer questions about:
  ✅ Carolus Linnaeus and early classification.
  ✅ How mutations drive evolution.
  ✅ Evidence of common ancestry among species.
  ✅ The role of fossils and homologous structures in tracing evolutionary changes.