Unit Four: Evolution

Objectives: Students should be able to:

- Describe what factors regulate population size and differentiate between density dependent and density independent factors.

- Explain the process of natural selection.

- Describe where genetic variation comes from.

- Interpret information from the fossil record (be able to look at a fossil record chart and describe which organisms are older, where extinction events appear to occur, and how long various groups of organisms have been around).

- Understand evolutionary relationship and be able to interpret a phylogenetic tree diagram.

- Describe the relationship of modern humans to our closest relatives, as well as the hypotheses about the origins of modern humans.

Colorado State Model Content Standards addressed:

3. 1 Students know and understand the characteristics of living things, the diversity of life, and how living things interact with each other and with their environment.

3.4 Students know and understand how organisms change over time in terms of biological evolution and genetics.

Dates: March 4 - March 13

Total Possible points: 200

Instructor(s): Messier and Swihart

Outline:

STRONGLY RECOMMENDED BACKGROUND READING:

http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/faq-intro-to-biology.html

Day One - March 4

In-Class Activities:

- Exploration: 10 pts

- Expansion I: "Population Growth and Factors limiting it" - 10 pts

- Expansion II: "Sources of Genetic Variation" - 10 pts

Required Reading:

http://www.ultranet.com/~jkimball/BiologyPages/P/Populations2.html

http://www.ultranet.com/~jkimball/BiologyPages/M/Mutations.html

Day Two - March 6

In-Class Activities:

- Expansion III: Natural Selection - 20 pts

Out-of-Class Activities Assigned:

- Application I: Natural Selection: Sickle Cell Anemia - due March 11 - 30 pts

- Application II: Creative project - due March 13 - 50 pts

Required Reading for March 11:

"A molecular view of microbial diversity and the biosphere" by Professor Norm Pace

Day Three - March 11

Homework due:

- Application I: Natural Selection: Sickle Cell Anemia

In-Class Activities:

- Expansion IV: "Tree of Life" - guest lecture by Dr. Norman Pace (1 hr) - 10 pts

- Expansion V: Fossil Record and the History of Life - 20 pts

Out-of-Class Activities Assigned:

- Expansion VI: Evolution and Personal Beliefs - 15 pts

Day Four - March 13

Homework due:

- Application II: Creative project

- Expansion VI: Evolution and Personal Beliefs - 15 pts

In-Class Activities:

- Expansion VII: Human Evolution - 10 pts

- Expansion VI: Evolution and Personal Beliefs - discuss in class

- Share Creative Projects

- Guided Reflection - 15 pts