Name
Date
Teacher
Assessment type: Extended response
Task 4: Evidence for evolution
Charles Darwin (1809-1882) suggested that all
organisms on Earth arose through a process called
natural selection – a slow and gradual change over many
generations. This is called the theory of evolution.
Evidence supporting Darwin's theory has been so
substantial that few biologists doubt its validity.
In this task you will have the opportunity to discuss the
single most unifying idea in biology: evolution and to
explain why the majority of biologists support the theory
of evolution.
Questions
1. Explain what the theory of evolution suggests and why biologists support this theory.
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2. Choose three of the following areas of biology:

fossils

homologous structures

comparative anatomy

embryology of vertebrates

comparative biochemistry and genetics.
Discuss the evidence for evolution from each of the three areas you chose. Support
your answers, where possible, with specific examples other than those given in this
resource.
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3. a) Describe or draw a phylogenetic tree that illustrates evolutionary relationships
between one of the groups of organisms listed below.

Dogs (wild and domestic): do not include separate breeds of the domestic dog).

Darwin’s finches
b) Explain the type(s) of evolutionary evidence used to construct your phylogenetic
tree.
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