Essential Knowledge 1.A.4

Biological evolution is supported by scientific evidence from many disciplines, including mathematics.

Scientific evidence of biological evolution uses information from geographical, geological, physical, chemical mathematical applications.

Molecular, morphological and genetic information of existing and extinct organisms add to our understanding of evolution.

Evidence of student learning is demonstrated through an understanding of each of the following.

Fossils can be dated by a variety of methods that provide evidence for evolution. These include the age of the rocks where a fossil is found, the rate of decay of isotopes including carbon-14, the relationships within phylogenetic trees, and the mathematical calculations that take into account information from chemical properties and/or geographical data.

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.

Biochemical and genetic similarities, in particular DNA nucleotide and protein sequences, provide evidence from evolution and ancestry.

Mathematical models and simulations can be used to illustrate and support evolutionary concepts.

Illustrative examples include:

• Graphical analyses of allele frequencies in a population
• analysis of sequence data sets
• Analysis of phylogenetic trees
• Construction of phylogenetic trees based on sequence data

Students should be able to:

LO 1.9 Evaluate evidence provided by data from many scientific disciplines that support biological evolution.

LO 1.10 Refine evidence based on data from many scientific disciplines that support biological evolution.

LO 1.11 Design a plan to answer scientific questions regarding how organisms have changed over time using information from morphology, biochemistry and geology.

LO 1.12 Connect scientific evidence from many scientific disciplines to support the modern concept of evolution.

LO 1.13 Construct and/or justify mathematical models, diagrams or simulations that represent processes of biological evolution.