• [History of life: Grades 9-12] Geological change and biological evolution are linked.
• [History of life: Grades 9-12] Tectonic plate movement has affected the evolution and distribution of living things. (ESS1.C)
• [History of life: Grades 13-16] Geological change and biological evolution are linked.
• [History of life: Grades 13-16] Tectonic plate movement has affected the evolution and distribution of living things.
• [Mechanisms of evolution: Grades 9-12] Evolution results from selection acting upon genetic variation within a population. (LS4.B)
• [Mechanisms of evolution: Grades 9-12] Natural selection acts on the variation that exists in a population. (LS4.B, LS4.C)
• [Mechanisms of evolution: Grades 9-12] Natural selection acts on phenotype as an expression of genotype.
• [Mechanisms of evolution: Grades 9-12] The amount of genetic variation in a population may affect the chances of survival of the population; the less diversity, the less likely the population will be able to survive environmental change.
• [Mechanisms of evolution: Grades 9-12] Inherited characteristics affect the likelihood of an organism's survival and reproduction. (LS4.B, LS4.C)
• [Mechanisms of evolution: Grades 9-12] Traits that confer an advantage may persist in the population and are called adaptations. (LS4.B, LS4.C)
• [Mechanisms of evolution: Grades 9-12] Over time, the proportion of individuals with advantageous characteristics may increase due to their likelihood of surviving and reproducing. (LS4.B, LS4.C)
• [Mechanisms of evolution: Grades 9-12] Depending on environmental conditions, inherited characteristics may be advantageous, neutral, or detrimental.
• [Mechanisms of evolution: Grades 13-16] Evolution results from natural selection acting upon genetic variation within a population.
• [Mechanisms of evolution: Grades 13-16] Evolution results from genetic drift acting upon genetic variation within a population.
• [Mechanisms of evolution: Grades 13-16] Natural selection and genetic drift act on the variation that exists in a population.
• [Mechanisms of evolution: Grades 13-16] Natural selection acts on phenotype as an expression of genotype.
• [Mechanisms of evolution: Grades 13-16] Phenotype is a product of both genotype and the organism's interactions with the environment.
• [Mechanisms of evolution: Grades 13-16] Inherited characteristics affect the likelihood of an organism's survival and reproduction.
• [Mechanisms of evolution: Grades 13-16] Over time, the proportion of individuals with advantageous traits may increase (and the proportion with disadvantageous traits may decrease) due to their chances of surviving and reproducing.
• [Mechanisms of evolution: Grades 13-16] Traits that confer an advantage may persist in the population and are called adaptations.
• [Mechanisms of evolution: Grades 13-16] Depending on environmental conditions, inherited characteristics may be advantageous, neutral, or detrimental.
• [Nature of science: Grades 9-12] Scientific knowledge is open to question and revision as we come up with new ideas and discover new evidence. (P4, P6, NOS3)
• [Nature of science: Grades 9-12] A hallmark of science is exposing ideas to testing. (P3, P4, P6, P7)
• [Nature of science: Grades 9-12] Scientists test their ideas using multiple lines of evidence. (P6, NOS2)
• [Nature of science: Grades 9-12] Scientists use multiple research methods (experiments, observational research, comparative research, and modeling) to collect data. (P2, P3, P4, NOS1)
• [Nature of science: Grades 9-12] Scientists can test ideas about events and processes long past, very distant, and not directly observable.
• [Nature of science: Grades 9-12] Scientists may explore many different hypotheses to explain their observations. (P7)
• [Nature of science: Grades 9-12] The real process of science is complex, iterative, and can take many different paths.
• [Nature of science: Grades 9-12] Science is a human endeavor. (NOS7)
• [Nature of science: Grades 13-16] Scientific knowledge is open to question and revision as we come up with new ideas and discover new evidence.
• [Nature of science: Grades 13-16] A hallmark of science is exposing ideas to testing.
• [Nature of science: Grades 13-16] Scientists test their ideas using multiple lines of evidence.
• [Nature of science: Grades 13-16] Scientists use multiple research methods (experiments, observational research, comparative research, and modeling) to collect data.
• [Nature of science: Grades 13-16] Scientists can test ideas about events and processes long past, very distant, and not directly observable.
• [Nature of science: Grades 13-16] Scientists may explore many different hypotheses to explain their observations.
• [Nature of science: Grades 13-16] The real process of science is complex, iterative, and can take many different paths.
• [Nature of science: Grades 13-16] Science is a human endeavor.
• [Studying evolution: Grades 9-12] Our understanding of life through time is based upon multiple lines of evidence.
• [Studying evolution: Grades 9-12] Scientists use the similarity of DNA nucleotide sequences to infer the relatedness of taxa. (LS4.A)
• [Studying evolution: Grades 9-12] Scientists use experimental evidence to study evolutionary processes.
• [Studying evolution: Grades 13-16] Our understanding of life through time is based upon multiple lines of evidence.
• [Studying evolution: Grades 13-16] Scientists use multiple lines of evidence (including morphological, developmental, and molecular evidence) to infer the relatedness of taxa.
• [Studying evolution: Grades 13-16] Scientists use the geographic distribution of fossils and living things to learn about the history of life.
• [Studying evolution: Grades 13-16] Scientists use experimental evidence to study evolutionary processes.

• Disciplinary Core Idea LS4.B: Natural Selection
• Disciplinary Core Idea ESS1.C: The History of Planet Earth
• Disciplinary Core Idea LS4.C: Adaptation
• NOS Matrix understanding category 1. Scientific investigations use a variety of methods.
• NOS Matrix understanding category 2. Scientific knowledge is based on empirical evidence.
• NOS Matrix understanding category 3. Scientific knowledge is open to revision in light of new evidence.
• NOS Matrix understanding category 4. Scientific models, laws, mechanisms, and theories explain natural phenomena.
• NOS Matrix understanding category 7. Science is a human endeavor.
• Science and Engineering Practice 3. Planning and carrying out investigations
• Science and Engineering Practice 4. Analyzing and interpreting data
• Science and Engineering Practice 6. Constructing explanations and designing solutions
• Science and Engineering Practice 7. Engaging in argument from evidence

This research profile is a great example of how scientists pose and test multiple hypotheses. It includes discussion and essay questions that can be assigned to students. Get tips for using research profiles in your classroom.

• Genetic Variation
• Natural Selection
• Nature of Science