Evolution: Examining Fossil and DNA Evidence (Developed by SEPUP)
kit #903S
In Activity 1, students investigate how fossil whales provide a line of evidence in support of the theory of evolution. Students then apply the theory of natural selection to whale evolution, using anatomical adaptations to infer the habitats, lifestyles, and evolutionary relationships of extinct species. In Activity 2, students examine classification from an evolutionary perspective. They compare DNA sequences from a number of vertebrates and create an evolutionary tree.
- Fossils provide important evidence of how life and environmental conditions have changed.
- Biological evolution accounts for the diversity of species developed through gradual processes, such as natural selection, over many generations.
- Scientific inquiry includes critical thinking to evaluate evidence and the explanations proposed by other scientists.
Content List in Evolution: Examining Fossil and DNA Evidence (Developed by SEPUP) is as follows:
| Quantity | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Teacher’s Guide |
| 28 | Student Worksheets and Guides |
| 12 | Sets of five Skeleton Cards |
| 12 | Whale Fossil Charts |
| 12 | Mysticetes Skeleton Cards |
| 12 | Sets of five DNA Cards |
| 3 | Transparencies |
- Number of students
- 24
- Number of groups
- Maximum 12 groups per period
To complete the two activities in this kit requires two to three ~50-minute class periods.
