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Overview: In this advanced 4-lesson curriculum unit, students examine evidence to compare four different explanations for why many malarial parasites are resistant to antimalarial drugs; investigate how scientific arguments using G6PD data show support for natural selection in humans; design an investigation using a simulation based on the Hardy-Weinberg principle to explore mechanisms of evolution; and apply their understanding to other alleles that have evolved in response to malaria. Author/Source: Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Grade level: 13-16 Time: 7 50-minute class periods Teaching tips: These lessons were designed for AP biology, but would work for college students as well. A condensed lesson sequence is available. Concepts: Correspondence to the Next Generation Science Standards is indicated in parentheses after each relevant concept. See our conceptual framework for details. Evolution is often defined as a change in allele frequencies within a population. The Hardy-Weinberg equation describes expectations about the gene pool of a population that is not evolving—one that is very large, mates randomly, and does not experience mutation, natural selection, or gene flow. Evolution occurs through multiple mechanisms. Evolution results from natural selection acting upon genetic variation within a population. Evolution results from genetic drift acting upon genetic variation within a population. Natural selection and genetic drift act on the variation that exists in a population. Natural selection acts on phenotype as an expression of genotype. Inherited characteristics affect the likelihood of an organism's survival and reproduction. 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. Traits that confer an advantage may persist in the population and are called adaptations. Depending on environmental conditions, inherited characteristics may be advantageous, neutral, or detrimental. A hallmark of science is exposing ideas to testing. Scientists test their ideas using multiple lines of evidence. Scientists use multiple research methods (experiments, observational research, comparative research, and modeling) to collect data. As with other scientific disciplines, evolutionary biology has applications that factor into everyday life, for example in agriculture, biodiversity and conservation biology, and medicine and health. Teacher background: Natural Selection

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