Below is the video of today’s discussion on Evidence of Evolution. For each topic consider these questions:
- How does this support Darwin’s theory of Evolution by Natural Selection?
- What are examples of this type of evidence?
Tag Archives: evolution
Evolution Simulations
Since evolution cannot occur before our eyes in a class period, today we’ll be ‘simulating’ evolution with a game and a simulator. For each, their are directions and questions you must answer. Click the image below to be taken to the weblink. (*iPad users: You must download and use the Puffin web browser to run these simulations)
Who Wants to Live a Million Years
Choose variations in a population to try to survive for a million years. Watch out for environmental changes and mutations!
Evolution Simulation
Watch how small changes in populations can have big impacts. You can also change settings to see how these animals would fair when their food source behaves differently.
Evolution Projects
Check out some of the amazing work our Honors Biology students created to share with some local middle school students to help them learn the basics of Evolution:
Some of the students created twitter accounts for middle schoolers to follow and included key concepts as well as #hashtagvocab!
Cladograms can be used to show relations among species. #cladograms #EvoluWHAT #relations #species pic.twitter.com/V6IP2Dh62k
— EvoluWHAT?! (@EvoluWHAT) April 7, 2014
Divergent is the accumulation of differences between groups which can lead to a formation of a new species. pic.twitter.com/cWj8AP7j5w
— Evolution (@BIOevolutionary) March 25, 2014
In Isabela and just saw my old girlfriend🙈………her kids have such shorter beaks than her #Mutation pic.twitter.com/JIZVTNcRNk
— HarryTheFinch (@hdarwinfinch) March 26, 2014
What did a T-Rex Taste Like?
What did a T-Rex Taste Like?
Believe it or not, we actually have was of finding this answer despite the fact the Tyrannosaurus Rex has been extinct for over 65 million years. We can determine a T-Rex features, including taste, using similar features (which we now know are called homologous structures). shared with animals the T-Rex is closely related to.
Recall that yesterday we learned that the more features you have in common, the higher the probability that you share a common ancestor/DNA (the exception would be convergent evolution where two species become increasingly similar despite the fact the originated from different ancestors). So what we can do is plot relatedness, based on characteristics, on a graphic called a cladogram, like the one shown here.
So Today, that’s exactly what we’ll be doing, using the link at the top of this post, you’ll follow the steps to learn how cladograms are created, organized, and what the different branches of it mean. By the time you are through, you will know what it tastes like to bite into a big fat dino-burger!
Evidence of Evolution
Evidence of Evolution PDF
The images below show different types of evidence that prove Natural Selection is the driving force behind evolution. Use these images, information rom your iBook, and the web to create answers to my questions and learn more about the evidence of Natural Selection. For an added challenge, see if you can match the name of the evidence to it’s illustration (Mouse over the images to see the answer):
Analogous Structure, Homologous Structure, Vestigial Structure, Embryology, Amino Acid (DNA) Sequence, Divergent Evolution, Convergent Evolution, Coevolution, Gradualism, Punctuated Equilibrium, Artificial Selection, Sexual Selection, Founder Effect, Directional Selection, Disruptive Selection, Stabilizing Selection
Why do all of these DIFFERENT animals have the SAME bones?
Who do we SHARE the most DNA with? What does this mean about our Evolution?
Why do these DIFFERENT types of animals have the SAME feature? Does this mean that they are closely related? or does it mean that the trait they share is an advantage in their environment?
If Humans choose the traits they want plants or animals to have is it still natural selection?
Why do these DIFFERENT types of animals look so SIMILAR? Does this mean they are closely related? What do Analogous structures have to do with this type of evolution?
So there was a large population with many variations… but they separated from one another over time…
Are these 2 new species of butterflies or still the same? What will happen over millions of years, will they look more similar or more different?
How come only one individual had a red star in the original population, but almost half have one in the new/resulting population?
Why do humans share more DNA with Mice than chickens? What does this tell us about our evolution?
Whales have legs??? What does this information tell you about Whale ancestors? where did they live? What has happened to the legs over millions of years and why did this happen? Can you think of any human examples of this?
Directional means the POPULATION mean will move toward one extreme.
Stabilizing means the POPULATION mean will move more toward the average.
Disruptive means the POPULATION will have two extremes that have large groups and less in the average. What will happen to this population over time?
Why do human embryos look so similar to fish embryos??? Does this mean we’re related to fish?
does this display help the peacock survive in its environment? or is it just for the ladies?
Compare the two types of evolution… Which one says that catastrophic events cause major changes in the population? How would you describe the other?
Do you think this plant always had flowers perfectly suited to a hummingbird’s beak?
Theories of Evolution
That’s what we’ve been talking about the last few days. We’ve talked about theories and evidence that supports or refutes those theories. There have been lots of theories of evolution but we’ve focused on two…
-
Jean-Baptiste Lamarck
- Acquired Characteristics
- Whatever traits or habits that you picked up over your life, you passed on to your children.
- Believed that if you really “needed” something or some habit to survive you could acquire it.
-
Charles Darwin
- Descent with Modification – Present living beings are modified decendents of older organisms and species.
- Modification by Natural Selection – Environment limits the growth of populations. Some Organisms have traits that make them better able to survive in their environment
Evidence suggests that Drawin’s theory, which he illustrated in his book “On the Origin of Species”, is accurate. Can you think of any instances of organisms that look like other species but have some type of special advantages to help them survive in their environment?
To review, click through the Darwin information pages and see if you can help a species of furry creatures live for a million years!
Studying The Fossil Record
Yesterday, we started the process of investigating what fossils can teach us about life on Earth. Below this post is the information from yesterday. Your goal is to use evidence you have found to answer the Big Idea Question today:
How do Fossils show that the Earth, and the Life-Forms on Earth, have changed over long periods of time?
When you have completed that activity, you can take part in the going further activity, A virtual adventure as an archeologist.
Adventures at Dry Creek
As a part of the adventure you will write small entries in a journal. To Access your Journal, use the School Name “Cathedral” when prompted. Your Journal entries will be saved and shared with me so I can monitor your progress. The journal and “special assignment” is worth credit and will apply directly to your Evolution Final Project at the end of the Unit. This is not a required assignment, but rather a chance to go deeper into the content if you are interested in it.
Special Assignment Outline
Data Table & Graph
Scope’s Fauna (Description of Animals)
Eddie’s Hypotheses
Analyzing the Data
The Fossil Record
One of the most enjoyable parts for both myself and my students about studying evolution, is a chance to search for evidence and create your own hypotheses and theories based on your own evidence. Sure the terms and concepts may not be up for debate, but how we use and interpret them is. Today, you and your new table mates will seek to answer a series of questions. Each of these questions will lead you to creating your own theory which you will type in below.
The Guiding Questions can be found by following the link to the Google Doc. Make sure, you follow the directions carefully to make your own version of the Google Doc.
The Fossil Record: Guiding Questions
You will use the iBook and an interactive website from the University of California Berkley to answer the questions.
UCMP: Getting Into the Fossil Record
Finally, when you are done with your guiding questions as a group, you will formulate your own theory and share it with the world. Answer the question below and feel free to view how other interpret the data.
