The Evolution Lab

The Evolution Lab Overview

• Resource Details:

  • Source: NOVA Labs
  • Target Audience: Grades 9-12
  • Time Commitment: 3 hours
  • Recommended Use: Introductory activity for an evolution unit.
  • Prerequisites: Students should understand the structure of DNA.

• Lab Components:

  • Part 1: Building phylogenetic trees using evidence such as fossils, biogeography, and DNA similarities.
  • Part 2: Exploring an interactive "tree of life" to trace shared ancestry among various species.

• Key Educational Topics:

  • History of Life: Common ancestry and the evolution of present-day species from earlier ones.
  • Evidence of Evolution: The role of the fossil record, biological diversity, and DNA sequence similarities in documenting evolutionary history.
  • Mechanisms of Evolution: Natural selection, genetic drift, genetic variation, and the impact of inherited characteristics on survival and reproduction.
  • Speciation: The process of lineage splitting, often driven by geographic isolation.
  • Scientific Methodology: Using phylogenies and cladograms as hypotheses to represent evolutionary relationships based on multiple lines of evidence.

• Aligned Disciplinary Core Ideas (NGSS):

  • LS3.B: Variation of Traits
  • LS4.A: Evidence of Common Ancestry and Diversity
  • LS4.B: Natural Selection
  • LS4.C: Adaptation
  • LS4.D: Biodiversity and Humans