EVOLUTION & PHYLOGENY OBJECTIVES
















Respond to the statement, “There is very little evidence for evolution,” using measurable
evidence.
o Response should include fossil, structural, and molecular evidence.
o (Connect evidence from several scientific disciplines to support biological evolution).
Connect evolutionary changes in a population over time to changes in the environment.
o ex: Darwin’s Finches, Peppered Moth, DDT resistance, Sickle cell anemia
Describe the Theory of Natural Selection by Charles Darwin.
Justify the claim that organisms share many conserved core processes and features that have
evolved and are widely seen among organisms today.
o Ex: Universal genetic code; homologous structures, vestigial structures, shared
metabolic pathways (ie: ATP production); organelles and endomembrane cell
structures.
Discuss how the geological sciences informed Darwin about changes in environmental
conditions over time.
Use the Hardy-Weinberg formula to analyze changes in the allele frequency of a population.
o Hardy-Weinberg simulation
Describe the 5 conditions necessary for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium using specific
terminology.
Explain the 5 conditions necessary for evolution to occur, using specific terminology.
Construct and/ or justify mathematical models, diagrams, or simulations that represent
processes of evolution.
o Phylogenetic Trees; Cladograms; Molecular Clocks
o Inquiry: Do female gray tree frogs select mates based on “good genes”.
Evaluate evidence provided by a data set in conjunction with a phylogenetic tree or simple
cladogram to determine evolutionary history and speciation.
Pose and respond to scientific questions that identify properties of shared life processes that
provide insights into the history of life on earth.
o Ex: The code and mechanism for manufacturing proteins is essentially the same for all
living things (DNA/ RNA). Mitochondria and chloroplasts shared many features of
prokaryotes.
Pose a question about natural selection in a model organism (Artemia) and design a protocol
to answer the experimental question.
Describe conditions in which speciation can occur.
o Allopatric speciation, Sympatric speciation, role of polyploidy, role of sexual selection
Recognize when it is appropriate to apply the biological species concept to define a species,
and apply the correct Species Concept instances when it is not useful.
Compare the 8 barriers that prevent gene flow and which maintain distinct species.
Design a plan for collecting data to investigate the scientific claim that speciation and
extinction have occurred throughout the Earth’s history.










Recognize that natural selection is the best supported mechanism to explain evolution.
Understand the importance of and identify sources of genetic variation.
Know how to solve problems associated with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.
List the five factors, and state an example of each, that affect Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and
understand how each can produce evolutionary changes in a population
Compare and contrast the founder effect and the bottleneck effect.
Understand the term fitness and all of the considerations that are involved with the concept of
fitness.
Distinguish between positive and negative frequency-dependent selection.
Comprehend what is meant by “the heterozygote advantage,” and explain the example given in
the text.
Describe and be able to graph the examples of the three kinds of selection.
Lab Objectives:
 Explain how natural selection can alter allelic frequencies in a population.
 Explain the Hardy-Weinberg equation and its use in determining the frequency of alleles in a
population.
 Explain the effects on the allelic frequencies of selection against the homozygous recessive or other
genotypes.
 Calculate the frequencies of alleles and genotypes in the gene pool of a population using the HardyWeinberg formula.
 Discuss natural selection and other causes of microevolution as deviations from the conditions required
to maintain Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.
 Additionally, you will test for relatedness of species using an antibody simulation in the study of the
immune system.