Chapter 16: EVIDENCE for evolution

General Instructional Objectives (GIOs)

Section 16.1:

    * Explain what is meant by "common descent with modification."

    * Explain what natural selection is and why it's a core principle in evolution.

    * Explain why evolution supports the concept of a dynamic, changing living world.

Section 16.2.-16.4:

    * Identify specific observations and inferences Darwin made regarding the theory of evolution during his studies.

    * Identify and explain evolutionary thinking before Darwin and how these ideas were later shown to be inaccurate...studying "wrong ideas" is not a waste of time...some of these wrong ideas still persist in our society 200-300 years later!  It's important to understand how misconceptions can be used to better understanding something like evolution.

    * Explain what Darwin meant by "descent with modification" and how this principle is at the heart of evolutionary biology.

Section 16.5:

    * Identify Wallace's contribution to evolutionary theory.

Section 16.6: 

    * Identify specific evidence that supports evolutionary theory and that of a common ancestor and how this evidence was obtained and analyzed i.e. what conclusions are drawn from it.

    * Explain how genetics is used to understand evolution.

Section 16.7:

    * Identify true/false statements about evolution.

    * in essence, know what IS and IS NOT stated in evolutionary theory.

Section 16.8:

    * Provide scientific evidence that is used to support the principle that all living organisms are related on Earth.  Remember: science is not trying to "prove" anything...we simply locate evidence, analyze it, try to make sense of it and make connections where they seem strongest.  This may lead back to what is and is not evolution.  

    * Explain why the ability to drink milk evolved.

    * Identify and explain evidence used to construct evolutionary theory (and how this evidence supports evolution).

Practice Options:

Click HERE to complete the Chapter 16 self-quiz.  

Attempts:  2

Time limit:  10 minutes

Score:  Not graded

Purpose:  Determine how well you understand the material from chapter 16. 

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