Standards

• SC.912.L.15.13 Describe the conditions required for natural selection, including: 

• overproduction of offspring, inherited variation, and the struggle to survive, which result in differential reproductive success.   

• explain and describe the conditions required for natural selection that result in differential reproductive success. 

• explain and describe the scientific mechanisms, such as genetic drift, gene flow, and nonrandom mating, resulting in evolutionary change. 

• explain and describe how mutation and genetic recombination increase genetic variation. 

• identify ways in which a scientific claim is evaluated (e.g., through scientific argumentation, critical and logical thinking, and consideration of alternative explanations). 

• SC.912.L.15.15 Describe how mutation and genetic recombination increase genetic variation. 

• SC.912.L.15.1 Explain how the scientific theory of evolution is supported by the fossil record, comparative anatomy, comparative embryology, biogeography, molecular biology, and observed evolutionary change. 

• identify evidence and explain how the scientific theory of evolution is supported by the fossil record, comparative anatomy, comparative embryology, biogeography, molecular biology, and observable evolutionary change. 

• identify examples of and basic trends in hominid evolution from early ancestors to modern humans. 

• identify ways in which a scientific claim is evaluated (e.g., through scientific argumentation, critical and logical thinking, and consideration of alternative explanations). 

• assess the reliability of sources of information according to scientific standards.   

• describe how scientific inferences are made from observations and identify examples from biology. 

• identify what is science, what is not science, and what resembles but fails to meet the criteria for science. 

• explain the development of a theory. 

• recognize the differences between theories and laws. 

• SC.912.L.15.6 Discuss distinguishing characteristics of the domains and kingdoms of Living organisms. 

• classify organisms based on the distinguishing characteristics of the domains (Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya) and kingdoms (Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia) of living organisms. 

• identify ways in which a scientific claim is evaluated (e.g., through scientific argumentation, critical and logical thinking, and consideration of alternative explanations). 

• describe how scientific inferences are made from observations and identify examples from biology. 

• SC.912.L.15.4 Describe how and why organisms are hierarchically classified and based on evolutionary relationships. 

• SC.912.L15.5 Explain the reasons for changes in how organisms are classified. 

• SC.912.L.15.8 Describe the scientific explanations of the origin of life on Earth.   describe scientific explanations of the origin of life on Earth. 

• identify situations or conditions contributing to the origin of life on Earth.   identify ways in which a scientific claim is evaluated (e.g., through scientific argumentation, critical and logical thinking, and consideration of alternative explanations). 

• assess the reliability of sources of information according to scientific standards.   identify what is science, what is not science, and what resembles but fails to meet the criteria for science. 

• Identify how the contributions of scientists such as Pasteur, Oparin, Milter and Urey, Margulis, or Fox aided in the development of the scientific explanation of the origin of life. 

• SC.912.L.15.10 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.

• SC.912.L.15.14 Discuss mechanisms of evolutionary change other than natural selection such as genetic drift and gene flow. 

Vocabulary

1. Adaptation - modification to an organism as a response to the environment

2. Bottleneck - population size is greatly reduced resulting in a lack of genetic diversity

3. Charles Darwin - Known for his work in evolution and natural selection

4. Common Descent - Every living thing has one common ancestor

5. Comparative Anatomy - Study of body structures of different species to understand the adaptive changes resulting from evolution

6. Comparative Embryology - Study of embryos across species and their development

7. Endosymbiosis - The theory of how a cell absorbed another single celled organism to form a symbiotic relationship. Some proof of this occurring is the DNA still found in Mitochondria

8. Fitness - references an individuals ability to pass on its genetics to the next generation

9. Fossil - remains of a once living organism 

10. Founder Effect - When a small group separates from a larger population resulting in a lowering of genetic diversity

11. Gene Flow - transfer of genetic material from one population to another

12. Genetic Drift - change in the frequency of a gene as the population changes over time due to random chance 

13. Genetic Variation - variation in DNA sequences

14. Hominid - Group that consists of modern and extinct great apes (includes modern humans and their ancestors)

15. Homologous Structure - Structures that have a similar structure but may have different function

16. Miller and Urey Experiment - Experiment that showed macromolecules meant for life could be formed from gases and energy that could be found in primordial Earth

17. Mutation - changes in the genetic sequence

18. Natural Selection - organisms adapt to their environment because those individuals that are more capable of living have more offspring than those that do not.

19. RNA World - hypothetical evolution theory where RNA was the start of life on Earth 

20. Speciation - when a group within a species separates from the main group and as a result of ecological pressures eventually develops its own unique characteristics

21. Theory - Attempts to explain how something happens.

22. Vestigial Structure - structures that remain in the species but have no modern use Ex: Whales have leg bones