Webquest:
Scientific Evidence
for Evolution
Shorecrest HS Biology 2013
Directions
§  As you proceed through this
webquest, record all work on
the graphic organizer
§  Remember to print and put the
organizer in your lab notebook
along with the coloring sheet
by the due date
Like all good scientific theories,
evolution must have scientific
evidence to support it
This evidence falls into 8 or more important
categories:
1. Fossil Record
2. Homologous structures
3. Analogous structures
4. Vestigial structures
5. Geographical distribution
6. Embryological studies
7. Genetic & biochemical comparisons
8. Resistance to antibiotics & pesticides
Define the theory of
evolution
Go to the following site for
information and then define the
the theory in your own words:
Interactive Site:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/id/predictions.html
Printable version:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/id/pred-nf.html
1: Fossil Record
A. Why are fossils considered
part of the scientific data that
supports Evolution?
Watch the quick time video and read the text
on this page:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/04/3/l_043_01.html
Visit this website to learn about transitional
forms:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/id/transitional.html
1: Fossil Record (cont.)
B. What evidence did scientists use to
determine the fossil they found was
that of a whale?
C. How do scientists use fossils to learn
when whale ancestors were living on
earth?
Watch the 10 minute video (Video # 3: “How Do We Know Evolution
Happens”) answer the Questions above in your notebook:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/educators/teachstuds/svideos.html
2: Homologous
structures
A. Color-code the homologous
structural parts on the sheet
"Adaptive Radiation: Mammalian
Forelimbs."
B. What are homologous structures?
C. Why are these considered evidence
for Adaptive Radiation or Divergent
Evolution?
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/darwin/origin/index.html
http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/similarity_hs_01
3: Analogous
structures
A. What are analogous structures?
B. How is this evidence for
Convergent Evolution?
http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/similarity_hs_01
4: Vestigial structures
A. What are vestigial structures?
§  Give an example of a vestigial structure in
humans.
§  Give an example of a vestigial structure in some
other organism.
B. Why are vestigial structures
considered evidence for
evolution?
http://www.livescience.com/animals/top10_vestigial_organs.html
5: Geographical
Distribution
A. What did Wallace and Wegener
discover?
B.  How does their evidence support
the theory of evolution?
http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/0_0_0/history_16
6: Embryology
A. What is embryology?
§  Compare the stages of development
illustrated on the sheet "Comparative
Embryology" and in the diagrams in the
Glencoe textbook (Page 433, Figure 18.11)
§  Create a branching diagram (like a family tree)
which shows the degree of relationship
between the animals listed
in these pictures (Pg. 433, fig. 18.11)
(6 total). Relationships
are based on the similarity
of their embryos.
B. How do embryological
studies provide evidence
for evolution?
7. Genetic & Biochemical
AND
8. Resistance to
antibiotics & pesticides
§  We will study these two types of
evidence later this year, so leave
#7 and #8 blank for now
More Connections: Lucy
A. Where was Lucy found?
B. How old is she?
C. What does Lucy tell us
about evolution?
http://iho.asu.edu/lucy
More Connections:
Hydrothermal Vents
A.  How are Hydrothermal vent
ecosystems similar to what it may
have been like on the Early
Earth?
http://www.divediscover.whoi.edu/
expedition1/