Understanding Evolution

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Understanding Evolution

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Transcription and translation

Evo in the news: An antibiotic that exploits evolutionary history

Grade Level(s):

  • 13-16
  • General

Source:

  • UC Museum of Paleontology

Resource type:

  • Evo in the News article

Time: 15 minutes

Overview

In October 2011, the World Health Organization announced that tuberculosis cases are on the decline for the first time in at least 20 years. Our battle against this ancient disease has been fought, in part, through the use of antibiotics like streptomycin. This news brief describes the 1.8 billion year evolutionary history behind these drugs.

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Evolution connection: Ribosomes

Grade Level(s):

  • 13-16

Source:

  • UC Museum of Paleontology

Resource type:

  • Evo Connection slide set

Time: 5 minutes

Overview

This short slide set explains how some antibiotics target the bacterial ribosome and don't attack the ribosomes in our own cells through a quirk of evolutionary history. Save the slide set to your computer to view the explanation and notes that go along with each slide.

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Evolution connection: Transcription and translation

Grade Level(s):

  • 13-16

Source:

  • UC Museum of Paleontology

Resource type:

  • Evo Connection slide set

Time: 5 minutes

Overview

This short slide set relates the role of RNA in the processes of transcription and translation to RNA's evolutionary history and the remnants of the RNA world. Save the slide set to your computer to view the explanation and notes that go along with each slide.

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Gene switches

Grade Level(s):

  • 13-16

Source:

  • Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Resource type:

  • Classroom activity

Time: Two 45-minute blocks

Overview

This lesson explains how genetic switches function and their role in the process of evolution through the use of clips from the HHMI DVD, Evolution: Constant Change and Common Threads, and the construction of a model. This activity can be done as a demonstration, a student inquiry activity, or a combination of the two.

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Molecular genetics of color mutations in rock pocket mice

Grade Level(s):

  • 13-16

Source:

  • Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Resource type:

  • Classroom activity

Time: 50 minutes

Overview

This lesson requires students to transcribe and translate portions of the wild-type and mutant rock pocket mouse Mc1r genes and compare sequences to identify the locations and types of mutations responsible for the coat color variation described in a short film.

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