Natural Selection and Adaptation

1. ​Do this quizizz activity with the person next to you.

2. Open Canvas to do your mastery task.

3. Work on the module "Natural Selection".

What are the key principles and processes of natural selection and how do they contribute to the diversity and adaptation of species?

Essential Question

You will answer this at the end of the lesson.

Match

Match the following

• gene

• mutation

• trait

• nucleotide

• inherited trait

a segment of DNA

a permanent change in the sequence of DNA, or the nucleotides, in a gene or a chromosome

a characteristic of an organism

a molecule made of a nitrogen base, a sugar, and a phosphate group

a characteristic received from one's parents

• a segment of DNA

• a permanent change in the sequence of DNA, or the nucleotides, in a gene or a chromosome

• a characteristic of an organism

• a molecule made of a nitrogen base, a sugar, and a phosphate group

• a characteristic received from one's parents

Standard: MS-LS4-4

Big Question: How do traits
affect the survival of the
organism?

L.O.: Explain using evidence
how variation in traits affects
species survival.

Success Criteria:
1.

Recall keywords such as
traits, mutation, DNA,
variation, and gene.

2.

Explore how variations
due to inherited
mutations can cause
adaptation over
generations.

3.

Explain how a species’
interactions with its
environment can lead to
the predominance and
suppression of traits
through natural
selection.

Key Vocabulary:
Natural selection, traits,
variation, adaptation,
camouflage, instinct, learned
behavior, mimicry, migration,
hibernation

​Theory of Natural Selection- Organisms that are best adapted to an environment survive and reproduce more than others.

​Evolution: The process of change over time. Specifically, a change in the frequency of a gene or allele in a population over time.

​Adaptations: An inherited trait that helps organism to survive and reproduce in an environment.

Variations: a slight difference in an inherited trait among individual members of the same species

Standard: MS-LS4-4

Big Question: How do traits
affect the survival of the
organism?

L.O.: Explain using evidence
how variation in traits affects
species survival.

Success Criteria:
1.

Recall keywords such as
traits, mutation, DNA,
variation, and gene.

2.

Explore how variations
due to inherited
mutations can cause
adaptation over
generations.

3.

Explain how a species’
interactions with its
environment can lead to
the predominance and
suppression of traits
through natural
selection.

Key Vocabulary:
Natural selection, traits,
variation, adaptation,
camouflage, instinct, learned
behavior, mimicry, migration,
hibernation

​Traits are characteristics of organisms

​

Inherited traits come from instruction in our Genes

​

Mutations in genes make variations in traits​.

​Theory of Natural Selection and Adaptations

Example 1 : Eye Colour​

Example 2: Fur Pattern Variations​

​Theory of Natural Selection and Adaptations

• Albinism is when an organism has no colour in its skin or hair

• It is ca​used by a mutation to the genes for skin and hair colour

• Melanism is when an organism has only black colour in its skin or hair

• It is caused by a mutation to the genes for skin and hair colour​

​Mutation and Variations

1. Mutations can be helpful because it will help the organism hide from predators​

2. Can make survival more difficult

3. Neutral does not help or harm the organism​

​

​Mutation and Variations

Helpful mutations: Fur colour of a rabbit

The white fur makes it easy for the rabbit to hide in snow​

Harmful mutations: The type of food the giraffe eat makes it possible for the those with long necks to survive​

​Mutation and Variations

​

Adaption is a mutation that helps an animal to survive

Giraffes have adapted longer necks making it easier to find food high up in trees​

​

​

​Mutations VS Inherited Traits

An adaptation is when a mutation becomes an inherited trait over time. Giraffes have adapted longer necks to ensure survival ​

​Camouflage as an adaption

Let's watch this video so we can learn more​

Camouflage is an adaptation

This is when an animal changes how it looks to match the environment

Standard: MS-LS4-4

Big Question: How do traits
affect the survival of the
organism?

L.O.: Explain using evidence
how variation in traits affects
species survival.

Success Criteria:
1.

Recall keywords such as
traits, mutation, DNA,
variation, and gene.

2.

Explore how variations
due to inherited
mutations can cause
adaptation over
generations.

3.

Explain how a species’
interactions with its
environment can lead to
the predominance and
suppression of traits
through natural
selection.

Key Vocabulary:
Natural selection, traits,
variation, adaptation,
camouflage, instinct, learned
behavior, mimicry, migration,
hibernation

Multiple Choice

Which one is an example of a harmful mutation?

Multiple Select

Which TWO are examples of a useful mutation?

Multiple Choice

The fur of the snowshoe rabbit changes to a lighter color in the winter. This allows the rabbit to blend in with its surroundings. This change is an example of:

• Adaptation

• Extinction

• Competition

• Succession

Multiple Choice

Due to genetic inheritance, members of a species can be slightly different from another in their traits. This is known as...

• Variation

• Overproduction

• Competition

• Evolution

Multiple Choice

An Adaptation is...

• a change or process in a species that helps it become bigger or smaller.

• a change or process that causes no change in a species.

• a change or the process of change by which an organism or species becomes better suited to its environment.

• a change or the process of change by which an organism or species is not able to adapt and survive.

Designed the theory of Natural Selection

He was scientist that studied plants and animal​

He discovered that the bird on Gala​pagos island had different beaks

Charles Darwin

Multiple Choice

Which bird is better ADAPTED to eat large nuts and seeds?

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

Multiple Choice

Which bird is better ADAPTED to eat bugs hiding in nooks and crannies in trees?

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

Multiple Choice

Charles Darwin’s observation that finches of different species on the Galápagos Islands have many similar physical characteristics supports the hypothesis that these finches 
 

• have the ability to interbreed.
  have the ability to interbreed.

• acquired traits through use and disuse.

• all eat the same type of food.

• descended from a common ancestor.

1. Open Canvas to do your mastery task.

2. Work on the module "Natural Selection".

What are the key principles and processes of natural selection and how do they contribute to the diversity and adaptation of species?

Essential Question

You will answer this at the end of the lesson.