Evolution Day 1-History of the Theory

​Change Over Time Day 1:
The History of Evolutionary Theory

Drag and Drop

A well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world that can incorporate facts, laws, inferences, & tested hypothesis​ ​

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A descriptive generalization about how some aspect of the natural world behaves under stated circumstances ​

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A testable statement about the natural world ​

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Obtaining knowledge of the outside world through our senses, or recording information using scientific tools or instruments ​

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A conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning ​

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Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

Theory

Law

Hypothesis

Observation

Inference

Multiple Choice

True or False.  Theories change because new technology improves our ability to observe the natural world.

• True
• False

Multiple Choice

Isla and Elijah are discussing scientific concepts. Which of the following best describes the difference between a scientific theory and a scientific law?

• A theory explains why phenomena occur, while a law describes how phenomena occur.

• A law explains why phenomena occur, while a theory describes how phenomena occur.

• Both theory and law explain why phenomena occur.

• Both theory and law describe how phenomena occur.

Multiple Choice

During a science class, Arjun and Maya were discussing scientific theories. Which of the following statements is true about scientific theories?

• They are guesses that have not been tested.

• They are well-substantiated explanations of why we observe some phenomenon in the natural world.

• They are laws that have been proven.

• They are hypotheses that have been disproven.

• They are well-substantiated descriptions of what we see occur of the natural world.

Categorize

Options (9)

A hypothesis can only become a theory once there is enough experimental data to support it

A theory has not been proven yet

Once a theory is proven it will become a law

A theory is widely accepted

Evidence can be added to a theory

Theories are based on a guess

Is a theory just a guess

Theories Explain, Laws Describe

Laws Explain, Theories Describe

Pick true or false for each of the scenarios

true

false

Scientific Theory vs Scientific Law

​Scientific Theory	​Scientific Law	​Both
Explains natural phenomena we observe/ Explains how nature works Non- mathematical	​ Can be reduced to a mathematical equation	Supported by a large body of scientific evidence

Multiple Choice

Inheritance in relation to animals is...

• How animals behave in an environment.

• What animals do to survive in an environment.

• What animals like to eat.

• Certain things that animals get from their parents.

Hotspot

Which part of the sandwich was probably put on the plate last/mot recently?

Hotspot

Which part of the sandwich was probably put on the plate first?

Hotspot

Which rock layer was the first?

What even is Evolution?

By pure definition alone, Evolution MEANS change over time

AKA: The process by which living things have undergone continuous change since they first appeared on Earth

AKA “ Descent with modification”

This process is a central and unifying theme in biology.

All life shares a common ancestor and gave rise to the diversity we see documented in the fossil record and all around us today.

What is the fossil record? How does it work?

Let's start with rocks:
The Law of Superposition states that rock on top are usually younger than those deposited below (kind of like a stack of books, a sandwich, or a layered cake). By understanding the Law of Superposition we can make general statements about the ages of these rock units, and their contents.

Multiple Choice

Evolution in relation to animals is...

• The different things animals eat

• How animals have evolved over time into different species

• How to classify different animals

• How animals have learnt to eat other animals

What is the fossil record? How does it work?

Now onto Fossils.

The fossil record is a history recorded by preserved fossils. Fossils are the remains or imprints of organisms from earlier geological periods preserved in sedimentary rock. In most cases, the original components have been replaced by minerals deposited from water seeping through the rock, however in some rare cases some of the organic material (usually skin, feathers, and scales) from the organism is preserved.

What is the fossil record? How does it work?

By combining our knowledge of the Law of Superposition with the fossil record, we can create a Geologic Timescale!

Just go give context, your test will not cover the ages :)

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Geologic Time Song!

How Did Darwin Do It?

He had great minds giving him ideas...
1. Hutton & Lyell ( 1785-1830): Geologists - Concluded that Earth is extremely old and that the processes that changed Earth in the past are the processes that operate in the present (uniformitarianism)

Ex: Ancient volcanoes release lava & gases just as volcanoes do now

How Did Darwin Do It?

He had great minds giving him ideas...
2. Thomas Malthus ( 1798): British Economist
- Inferred that if the human population grew unchecked, there would not be enough living space and food for everyone.

How Did Darwin Do It?

He had great minds giving him ideas...
3. Jean-Baptiste Lamarck ( 1801): Early Evolutionary Biologist
- Hypothesized that species evolve through the use and disuse of acquired traits
- Acquired Traits are characteristics organisms could change during their life time by using or not using various parts of their bodies.
- Thought these “acquired traits” could be passed on to offspring

His Hypothesis was REFUTED

Multiple Choice

Contrary to the beliefs of Lamarck, this trait will not be inherited

• Fur color
• Feathers
• Eye color

• A suntan
• Fin Shape

Who's Darwin?

He was a English naturalist/scientist ( 1809-1882). He was only 22 and a fresh graduate of Cambridge University when he made his claim to fame aboard the HMS Beagle, during a 5 year survey trip of shipping routes around the world.

During the voyage, Darwin read Lyell's book Principles of Geology and agreed with Lyell's conclusion; that the geology of the world changes over time.

Darwin Questioned: If Earth can change over time, could life change too?

The Galapagos Changed EVERYTHING

On his visit to the Galapagos Islands he observed many unique organisms & they had traits to help them survive in their specific environments. Some organisms also showed variations between the islands and their different habitats

Tortoise

Marine Iguana

Blue Footed Boobies

The Galapagos Changed EVERYTHING

He observed many species of finches- each of them unique and were distinguishable by different shaped beaks. Later Darwin suggested these were adaptations to particular diet.

The tortoise, island by island carried different shaped shells

The Galapagos Changed EVERYTHING

The Galapagos Changed EVERYTHING

Once, back in England, Darwin thought that the mechanism of evolution was like the process of artificial selection (selective breeding) practiced by breeders of plants and animals.

- Artificial Selection (Selective Breeding): Organisms with specific traits are selected and breed to make more organisms with those favorable characteristics

Dog Breeds are a great example of Artificial Selection

The Galapagos Changed EVERYTHING

On November 24, 1859: Darwin’s book The Origin of Species was published. It completely sold out (1250 copies!!!) in just one day.

In his book, he hypothesized natural selection as the mechanism for evolution He used the term natural selection to indicate that evolution was controlled by “nature” or the environment rather than by people!

Natural Selection=Survival of the Fittest

Multiple Choice

Black and brown bears have dark fur. They live in wooded areas. Polar bears have

white fur. They live in Arctic areas. How does the color of each bear’s fur help it

survive?

• The color helps each type of bear blend into its environment.

• The color of each matches its food source so hunting is easier.

• The color absorbs the right amount of sun each needs for warmth.

• The color is a signal to the enemies of each to keep them from attacking.

Multiple Choice

The environment of a particular species of rabbit is becoming colder over time. Rabbits with which of the following traits will best be able to survive and reproduce?

• Shorter legs

• Thicker fur

• Longer ears

• Longer whiskers

Multiple Choice

If a species is unable to adapt within a changing environment what can happen to that species?

• Extinction

• Genetic variation

• Adaptation

• Competition

Multiple Choice

During his trip to the Galapagos Islands, Charles Darwin observed that finches on different islands had different features. Ultimately, how did this observation contribute to Darwin’s theory of natural selection?

• A.He concluded that every instance of species variation results in a beneficial mutation.

• B.He concluded that mutation inhibits the chance that an organism will adapt to its environment.

• C. He concluded that species develop mutations exclusively because of electromagnetic radiation.

• D. He concluded that traits well suited to an organism’s environment are more likely to be passed on to successive generations.

Multiple Choice

3. Scientists have discovered bacteria that can survive in the hot temperatures found in the lava of volcanoes. Which statement best explains how bacteria could survive in this environment?

• A.Bacteria are small enough not to be killed by heat.

• B.Bacteria are simple organisms and can live in any conditions.

• C.Bacteria have mutated and those suited to the environment survive there.

• D. Bacteria grow faster in hot conditions and so are suited to the environment.

Multiple Choice

Why is adaptation important for animals?

• So they can live in a range of different habitats

• So they can have more young

• So they don't get scared by humans

• so they can live in groups

Multiple Choice

Which concept suggests that organisms best suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce?

• Artificial Selection
• Common Descent
• Inheritance of Acquired Characteristics
• Natural Selection

Multiple Choice

What is a characteristic that helps an organism survive and reproduce in its environment? 

• Selective Breeding 
• Adaptation 
• Evolution 
• Fossils 

Multiple Choice

What provided information on the history of life? 

• Fossils 
• Speciation 
• Adaptation 
• Evaluation 

Multiple Choice

What is another name for natural selection?

• survival of the smartest
• survival of the fastest
• survival of the biggest
• survival of the fittest

Multiple Choice

Predict which moth would increase in population as a result of natural selection

• light 
• dark

Multiple Choice

Why are advantageous traits more likely to be passed onto offspring?

• Because they are more likely to survive and reproduce.
• Because they come from dominant alleles.
• Because they come from recessive alleles.
• Because the trait is an acquired phenotype.