Unit 6 - Evolution and Natural Selection

In the last unit we saw how organisms can adapt to live in a wide variety of environments from oceans and deserts to extreme environments such as the arctic tundra. We also learned earlier that one of the many characteristic of living things is that they can change over time, a process we call evolution. In this unit we will study evolution in more detail, focusing on the evidence for evolution as well as the rates and patterns of evolution. Most importantly, we will study natural selection, the mechanism by which evolution operates and how adaptations to a changing environment over long periods of time can lead to the evolution of new kinds of organisms, a process we call speciation.

SBS5. Students will evaluate the role of natural selection in the development of the theory of evolution.
a. Trace the history of the theory.
b. Explain the history of life in terms of biodiversity, ancestry, and the rates of evolution.
c. Explain how fossil and biochemical evidence support the theory.
d. Relate natural selection to changes in organisms.
Recognize the role of evolution to biological resistance (pesticide and antibiotic resistance).
SB3c: Examine the evolutionary basis of modern classification systems.

Instruction will be a selection of video lessons, class discussion, mini- lectures and at least one worksheet. Listen to mini-lectures, view videos, and participate in class discussions. It will save you a lot of time and effort if you complete the worksheet as we go (not before or after the lessons) and make flash cards of important vocabulary at the same time.

Specific Assignments:

Assignment 1: Watch video below on "Biological Evolution." Participate in the class discussion that follows. Begin to complete the Evolution and Natural Selection worksheet. Make flashcards of important terms. (click here to view worksheet)



Assignment 2: Introduction to Evolution - mini lecture. Take notes. Continue to fill-in your worksheet and make flash cards of important terms.

Review what you have learned about evolution so far,
click on video 1 and
then click on video 2.

Assignment 3: Mini-lecture: Rates of Evolution - Gradualism vs. Punctuated Equilibrium. Take notes and continue to complete the Evolution and Natural Selection worksheet.

Click here for a good summary of the concepts you have just learned.

Assignment 4: Study the handout sheet on Phylogenetic Trees. Then, during class discussion, demonstrate that you know how to interpret the information on the tree by answering your instructors questions . (click here to see worksheet)

Assignment 5: Mini-lecture: Patterns of Evolution. Take notes and add the information to the appropriate sections of the Evolution and Natural Selection worksheet.

Review what you have learned about patterns of evolution by clicking on an watching following short videos:
Divergent Evolution
Convergent Evolution
Adaptive Radiation
Co-evolution

Assignment 7: Mini-lecture: Speciation. Takes notes and complete the last section of the Evolution and Natural Selection worksheet.

The following video summarizes what you have learned about speciation.

Quiz: Evolution and Natural Selection. The quiz covers all you have learned about evolution and natural selection including rates of evolution, patterns of evolution, and speciation. Be able to interpret information on a phylogenetic tree. Use your worksheet as a study guide and your flashcards to help you memorize key terms and concepts. Be able to give examples.