BIOLOGY: AN EVOLUTIONARY APPROACH
2008-2009
AN EVOLUTIONARY APPROACH
This 9th grade biology class emphasizes both an Evolutionary and an Inquiry approach to
studying the discipline of biology – The Study of Life.
We will spend the year discussing life and living organisms through an Inquiry Approach
and provide empirical evidence in support of the Scientific Theory of Evolution as it
applies to Biology.
Biological Evolution is the common thread that holds together all of biological
Thought.
Nothing in biology makes any sense without the Theory of Evolution.
All living organisms share Unity, Diversity, Adaptations.
The Scientific Theory of Biological Evolution:
All living organisms are descended with modifications from a common ancestor driven
by the processes of natural selection over time
UNITY - Common Ancestry
All living organisms are related and share a common ancestry
Similar Structures, Functions, and DNA
DIVERSITY - Modifications
Modifications in organisms’ structures and functions (traits) are the result of changes in
their environment.
These base changes are called Mutations.
Mutations in DNA (genes) change the kinds of proteins organisms’ synthesis.
Different proteins result in different structures and functions (traits).
ADAPTATIONS - Natural Selection
Different structures and functions (traits) often result in adaptations.
Adaptations allow some organisms to function more successfully in their environment.
Adaptations allow some organisms to out compete their neighbors for limited resources.
Adaptations allow some organisms to utilize energy more successfully.
If some organisms utilize energy more successfully they can spend more time
reproducing
If some organisms reproduce more successfully they can pass their traits, genes, DNA on
to more offspring who also have the ability to function more successfully (etc.) in
their environment.
Those organisms with those adaptations (traits, genes, DNA) that allow them to produce
more successful offspring have been naturally selected by their environment.
They might not be the strongest, fastest, or the largest, but they are more successful in
their particular environment and leave more successful offspring.
Those organisms without those adaptations (traits, genes, DNA) that allow them to
produce more successful offspring have been naturally selected against by their
environment.
As a result of Natural Selection a species of organisms can evolve (change over time).