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Overview:
Explore just a few of the many cases in which evolutionary theory helps us secure and improve the world's crops. Genetic diversity, disease resistance and pest control are highlighted.Author/Source:
UC Museum of Paleontology Grade level:
9-12 Time:
20-30 minutes Teaching tips:
This article is one of a set of three (agriculture, conservation, and medicine) that can be used to teach about the relevance of evolution. This article exemplifies many different evolutionary concepts and would be well-supported by materials focusing on each of these concepts in particular. This particular article will also support the teaching of Mendelian genetics. Concepts:
Correspondence to the Next Generation Science Standards is indicated in parentheses after each relevant concept. See our conceptual framework for details. - Present-day species evolved from earlier species; the relatedness of organisms is the result of common ancestry. (LS4.A)
- Evolution results from selection acting upon genetic variation within a population. (LS4.B)
- Inherited characteristics affect the likelihood of an organism's survival and reproduction. (LS4.B, LS4.C)
- Depending on environmental conditions, inherited characteristics may be advantageous, neutral, or detrimental.
- The amount of genetic variation within a population may affect the likelihood of survival of the population; the less the available diversity, the less likely the population will be able to survive environmental change.
- Natural selection acts on the variation that exists in a population. (LS4.B, LS4.C)
- Over time, the proportion of individuals with advantageous characteristics may increase (and the proportion with disadvantageous characteristics may decrease) due to their likelihood of surviving and reproducing. (LS4.B, LS4.C)
- As with other scientific disciplines, evolutionary biology has applications that factor into everyday life.
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