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Overview:
This interview with one of the most influential evolutionary biologists of today addresses many aspects of natural selection: how it works, examples, misconceptions, and implications.
This article appears at ActionBioscience.org.Author/Source:
ActionBioscience.org Grade level:
9-12 Time:
20 minutes Teaching tips:
Though clear, the content and writing level of this resource are somewhat advanced. However, it might serve as good topic for discussion in an AP biology classroom. 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)
- New heritable traits can result from recombinations of existing genes or from genetic mutations in reproductive cells. (LS3.B)
- Mutations are random.
- Traits that confer an advantage may persist in the population and are called adaptations. (LS4.B, LS4.C)
- Random factors can affect the survival of individuals and of populations.
- Organisms cannot intentionally produce adaptive mutations in response to environmental influences.
- 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)
- Evolution results from genetic drift acting upon genetic variation within a population.
- Speciation is the splitting of one ancestral lineage into two or more descendent lineages.
- Evolution does not consist of progress in any particular direction.
- A hallmark of science is exposing ideas to testing. (P3, P4, P6, P7)
- Science is a human endeavor. (NOS7)
- As with other scientific disciplines, evolutionary biology has applications that factor into everyday life.
- There is variation within a population. (LS3.B)
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