SBI 3U - Evolution Unit
Independent Study – PART 1
 The following assignment is to be done using the website:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/index.html
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Part 1: Darwin [20 marks]
Darwin’s Diary
 Use the Origin, Beagle and God tabs to create a timeline summarizing Darwin’s life, his
voyages and his beliefs. Create a written account of his life, writing no more than 3-5
points per timestamp. [10 marks]
Video from the Evolution Library: Evolving Ideas: Isn’t Evolution Just a Theory?
6 min. 15 sec. [4 marks]
 Watch the video on the vocabulary relating to evolution and science. Answer these
questions.
1. What is a common misconception about the definition of a theory?
2. What makes a scientific theory?
3. Briefly explain the past explanation for the movement of the sun and the new
theory that replaced the old one.
4. List three other daily phenomena explained by theories.
An Origin of Species
 Watch and read the information on explore what Darwin called “the mystery of
mysteries” – the pollenpeeper – and how the various locations changed over time.
 In the species gallery, 5 animal species are named. Select one family and make a
chart, like the one below, outlining the differences in traits for each species, such as
size, colourings, and other features (length of claws, size of eyes, etc.) Also include a
column that attempts to explain the specific trait. For example, tan coloured skin
could be for living in sand, large eyes for hunting at night, etc. Note: I know that you
are making an educated guess here. [6 marks]
Name of Species
Trait differences
Suspected Reason for
differences
SBI 3U - Evolution Unit
Independent Study – PART 2
 The following assignment is to be done using the website:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/index.html
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Part 2: Change [24 marks]
Deep time

View the web activity and do the following:
1. Write a short paragraph about Deep time. [2 marks]
2. List the 4 eras and each period within it. Include dates. [2 marks]
Note: mya – millions of years ago
3. As you look through Deep Time, choose any six (6) transformations (blue circles) that
surprised you. State what occurred and how long ago. [6 marks]
Video from the Evolution Library: Hummingbird Species in Transitional Zones video 3 min. 49 sec.

Watch the video and answer these questions. [3 marks]
1. What organisms will Schneider’s team study?
2. What are they hoping to understand by studying these organisms?
3. Give two examples of the biodiversity that exists in their study area.
All in the family

This activity will allow you to try to determine which organisms are most closely related. Try the
activity, repeating the exercise with different organisms. What surprised you most about the
related species? [2 marks]
Video from the Evolution Library: Genetic Tool Kit 4 min. 47 sec.

Watch the video on the common set of genes that result in similar body parts in all organisms.
Answer these questions. [4 marks]
1.
2.
3.
4.
What was evolution not tinkering with?
What was evolution tinkering with?
What did Lewis study and for how long?
What conclusion did he come to as a result of his research?
Video from the Evolution Library: Fish with Fingers 3 min 48 sec.

Watch the video and answer these questions.
1. Why are most textbooks wrong? [3 marks]
2. Why were Clack’s findings such a scientific breakthrough? [2 marks]
How Evolution Really Works (18 marks)
Video from Evolution Library: Evolving Ideas: How Do We Know Evolution Happens? 7 min.

Watch the video and answer these questions. [3 marks]
1.
On what three levels does evolution happen?
2.
What do the multiple layers of earth indicate?
3.
Why do paleontologists look to fossils for answers?
Evolution library: Variation: Snails [6 marks]


Read the information about the snails.
Define the following terms: heritable variation, directional selection, evo-devo, gene flow,
sexually dimorphic and vestigial.
Video from Evolution Library: Evolving ideas: How Does Evolution Really Work? 6 min. 39 sec.

Watch the video and answer these questions. [3 marks]
1.
Explain in detail the primary way that evolution occurs.
2.
Explain each of the four processes involved in natural selection.
3.
Briefly describe the scenario involving hummingbirds and their bill shape.
Video from the Evolution Library: Evolution of Camouflage? 58 sec.

Watch the video and answer these questions. [2 marks]
1.
Why have some forest mantis’ changed so dramatically over time?
2.
What factors influenced this change?
Image from the Evolution Library: How the Woodpecker avoids a headache.

Study the image and answer these questions. [4 marks]
1.
Explain at least 4 adaptations that woodpeckers possess to help it find food.
SBI 3U - Evolution Unit
Independent Study – PART 3
 The following assignment is to be done using the website:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/index.html
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Part 3: Evidence and Importance of Evolution (23 marks)
WebQuest: Evidence for Evolution [12 marks]

In this Evolution WebQuest you will investigate a variety of types of evidence for evolution. You
are responsible for learning about fossil evidence, structural evidence, and genetic evidence
for evolution and presenting this information in a chart format such as the one below. In
addition to the information on the PBS website, you may use other reputable websites as well as
your unit notes on the class website.
Evidence for Evolution
Special Areas of Interest
Significance
Evidence
(point form or diagrams)
Anatomy
Molecular biology (DNA)
Paleontology (Fossils)
Video from the Evolution Library: Did Humans Evolve? 5 min 33 sec.

Watch the video and answer the following questions.
[3 marks]
1. What’s the difference between a relative and an ancestor?
2. What percentage of DNA do we have in common with a chimpanzee?
3. Why are human and rat DNA more unlike when compared to human and chimp DNA?
Video from the Evolution Library: Human Chromosome 2. 3 min 27 sec.

Watch the video and answer the following questions. [3 marks]
1. How many chromosomes do the apes have as compared to humans?
2. What genetic evidence is presented here which suggests that we are descended from the
apes?
Video from the Evolution Library: Evolving Ideas: Why Does Evolution Matter Now? 6min., 19sec.

Watch the video and answer these questions. [5 marks]
1. What indicates that evolution happens every day?
2. How do we affect the evolution of viruses and bacteria?
3. How does antibiotic resistance become prevalent in a bacteria-rich environment?
4. Explain natural selection in the bacteria population.
5. How does globalization relate to evolution of bacteria?