Essential Idea:  There is overwhelming evidence for the evolution of life on Earth.

• Outline answer to each objective statement for topic 5.1 (coming soon)
• Quizlet study set for this topic
  

At SHS, Topic 5.1 is taught in the following class unit(s):​​​​

• ​Natural Selection (unit 19)
• Evidence for Evolution (unit 20)
• Speciation (unit 21)

5.1.U1  Evolution occurs when heritable characteristics of species change.

• Define evolution. ​

5.1.U2  The fossil record provides evidence for evolution.

• Define strata and paleontology.
• Explain three pieces of evidence that fossils provide that evolution has occurred.​ ​

5.1.U3  Selective breeding of domesticated animals shows that artificial selection can cause evolution.​

• Use an example to explain how selective breeding has lead to evolution in a species.
• Explain the process of artificial selection using selective breeding.

5.1.U4  Evolution of homologous structures by adaptive radiation explains similarities in structure when there are differences in function.​

• Contrast analogous structures and homologous structures.
• Contrast convergent evolution and adaptive radiation.
• State an example of analogous structures.
• State an example of homologous structures.
• Define vestigial structure.
• State an example of a vestigial structure.

5.1.U5  Populations of a species can gradually diverge into separate species by evolution.​

• Describe the process of gradual speciation.

5.1.U6  Continuous variation across the geographical range of related populations matches the concept of gradual divergence.

• Explain how continuous variation across geographical ranges is evidence of evolutionary change.
• State an example of recognizably different populations of the same species across a geographical range.

5.1.A1  Comparison of the pentadactyl limb of mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles with different methods of locomotion.

• Define pentadactyl limb.
• List the bone structures present in the pentadactyl limb.
• Identify pentadactyl limb structures in diagrams of amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.
• Relate differences in pentadactyl limb structures to differences in limb function.

5.1.A2  Development of melanistic insects in polluted areas.

• ​Explain how natural selection leads to changes in the melanistic variety of insects in polluted areas.

5.1.NOS  Looking for patterns, trends and discrepancies- there are common features in the bone structure of vertebrate limbs despite their varied use.

• Propose a mechanism that explains the pattern found in vertebrate limb structure yet allows for the specialization of different limb functions. ​

In the News:

• Early tetrapods had an eye on the land (2019-10-23)
• Colorado Fossils Show How Mammals Raced to Fill Dinosaurs’ Void (2019-10-24)
• Most U.S. Dairy Cows Are Descended From Just 2 Bulls. That's Not Good (2019-10-17)
• These Butterflies Evolved to Eat Poison. How Could That Have Happened? (2019-10-02)
• Fossil of ancient four-legged whale with hooves discovered (2019-04-04)
• Genomic evidence of rapid adaptation of invasive Burmese pythons in Florida (2018-10-190)
• The finding suggested a regionalized vertebral column evolved early in land animal history, even before the divergence of mammals and reptiles (2018-09-20)
• ​558m-year-old fossils identified as oldest known animal (2018-09-20)
• How the house sparrow made its home with humans (2018-08-24)
• This saltwater trout evolved to live in freshwater—in just 100 years (2018-06-01)
• World’s oldest lizard fossil discovered  (2018-05-30)
• An Ancient Horse Is Unearthed in a Utah Backyard (2018-05-03)
• Fossil sheds light on evolutionary journey from dinosaur to bird (2018-05-02)
• A Newly Discovered Difference Between Alligators and Crocodiles (2018-03-12)
• Part spider, part scorpion creature captured in amber (2018-02-05)
• How warp-speed evolution is transforming ecology (2018-01-31)
• Why Dogs Have Floppy Ears: An Animated Tale (2018-01-30)
• ​How many toes do horses have? A new study suggests a radical number: five (2018-01-23)
• Altering A Species: Darwin's Shopping List (2018-01-15)
• Recently discovered fossil shows transition of a reptile from life on land to life in the sea (2017-12-06)
• British birds evolve bigger beaks to use garden feeders (2017-10-19)
• ​An evolving sticky situation (2017-10-12)
• ​Basis of development of vertebrate limb muscles has been established in cartilaginous fishes (2017-10-02)
• ​Scientists reproduce evolutionary changes by manipulating embryonic development of mice (2014-07-30)
• Evolution Is Happening Faster Than We Thought (2016-07-23)
• Feral chickens spread light on evolution (2016-09-30)
• Ancient genomes show how maize adapted to life at high altitudes (2017-08-03)
• Cold snap makes lizards evolve in just a few months (2017-08-03)
• ​​From Fins Into Hands: Scientists Discover a Deep Evolutionary Link (2016-08-17)
• ​​Fossils found in Siberia suggest all dinosaurs could have been feathered (2014-07-30)
• Dinosaurs shrank continually into birds (2014-07-31)
• First Venezuelan dino provides clues to dinosaur evolution (2014-08-05)
• A Gigantic, Exceptionally Complete Titanosaurian Sauropod Dinosaur from Southern Patagonia, Argentina (2014-09-04)
• Fossils of oldest known snakes unearthed (2015-01-27)
• Fossils from heart of Amazon provide evidence that South American monkeys came from Africa (2015-02-04)
• Oldest fur seal identified, ending 5-million-year 'ghost lineage' (2015-02-11)
• Earliest-known arboreal and subterranean ancestral mammals discovered (2015-02-12)
• International team of scientists launches fossil database (2015-02-24)
• Kenyan fossils show evolution of hippos (2015-02-24)
• Think Man-Sized Swimming Centipede — And Be Glad It's A Fossil (2015-03-11)
• Odd creature was ancient ancestor of today’s giraffes (2015-11-24)
• Tiny new North Pacific fossil whale from 30 million years ago (2015-12-02)
• Most species that disappear today will leave no trace in the fossil record (2016-03-15)
• You have no idea where camels really come from (TED talk, filmed 2015-11)
• Hunting for dinosaurs showed me our place in the universe (TED talk, 2016 Feb)
• Tomatillo Fossils, 52 Million Years Old, Are Discovered in Patagonia (2017-01-09)
• Fossils of wolf-sized otter unearthed in China (2017-01-23)
• Pincer-wielding 507m-year-old fossil sheds light on evolution of crabs (2017-04-26)
• 36m-year-old fossil discovery is missing link in whale evolution, say researchers (2017-05-11)
• How Horses Got Their Hooves (2017-08-28)
• Reshaping the horse through millennia: Sequencing reveals genes selected by humans in domestication (2014-12-15)
• We can reprogram life. How to do it wisely (TED talk, 2015 Nov)
• How an ancient pope helped make chickens fat (2016-09-15)
• Tomato ancestor evolved 50 million years ago near Antarctica (2017-01-05)
• Why tomatoes got bland—and how to make them sweet again (2017-01-26)
• Some surprising dog breeds have ancient American heritage (2017-04-25)
• Earliest evidence for dog breeding found on remote Siberian island (2017-05-26)

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