Evolution 101 is an in-depth, multi-part course that reviews evolutionary theory from basic definitions to details. It includes information on natural selection, genetic drift, mutations, phylogenetics, punctuated equilibrium, and much more! Be sure to check out the right-hand margin of all Evolution 101 pages for links to related lessons, readers, advanced materials, and other resources. You can explore the following sections:

• An introduction to evolution
  Evolution briefly defined and explained
• The history of life: looking at the patterns
  How does evolution lead to the tree of life?
• Mechanisms: the processes of evolution
  How does evolution work?
• Microevolution
  How does evolution work on a small scale?
• Speciation
  What are species anyway, and how do new ones evolve?
• Macroevolution
  How does evolution work on a grand scale?
• The big issues
  What are some of the big questions that evolutionary biologists are trying to answer?

Digging Data

We’ve embedded data interpretation activities directly in Evolution 101 so that students can work with authentic data and learn how evolutionary biologists do their science. Check them out:

Extinction vulnerability with Shan Huang, David Jablonski, and Stewart Edie

Sexual selection with Maydianne Andrade

Artificial selection with Elaine Ostrander and team

Mutation with Molly Przeworski, Felix Wu, and team

Extinction with Melissa Kemp and Liz Hadly