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Overview:
Understanding the evolution of fire ants may help scientists control the spread of these pests, which have already taken over much of the U.S.Author/Source:
UC Museum of Paleontology Grade level:
9-12 Time:
40 minutes Teaching tips:
This article uses clear language, helpful explanations, and useful images--but it does get into some advanced applications of natural selection. This resource is probably best used with advanced students who already have a basic understanding of natural selection. Concepts:
Correspondence to the Next Generation Science Standards is indicated in parentheses after each relevant concept. See our conceptual framework for details. - Evolution results from selection acting upon genetic variation within a population. (LS4.B)
- Traits that confer an advantage may persist in the population and are called adaptations. (LS4.B, LS4.C)
- 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.
- Natural selection acts on phenotype as an expression of genotype.
- 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)
- A hallmark of science is exposing ideas to testing. (P3, P4, P6, P7)
- Scientists test their ideas using multiple lines of evidence. (P6, NOS2)
- Scientists can test ideas about events and processes long past, very distant, and not directly observable.
- Scientists use multiple research methods (experiments, observational research, comparative research, and modeling) to collect data. (P2, P3, P4, NOS1)
- Our understanding of life through time is based upon multiple lines of evidence.
- Scientists use experimental evidence to study evolutionary processes.
- As with other scientific disciplines, evolutionary biology has applications that factor into everyday life.
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