Big Ideas:

·  Evolution is the process of biological change over time based on the relationships between species and their environments

·  The theory of evolution is a scientific explanation based on a large accumulation of evidence

·  Technology that enables humans to manipulate the development of species has economic and environmental implications

Overall Expectations: You should be able to…

·  Analyse the economic and environmental advantages and disadvantages of an artificial selection technology, and evaluate the impact of environmental changes on natural selection and endangered species

·  Investigate evolutionary processes and analyse scientific evidence that supports the theory of evolution

·  Demonstrate an understanding of the theory of evolution, the evidence that supports it, and some of the mechanisms by which it occurs

Try these questions:

1.  The process involving changes in one or more characteristics of a population that are heritable and occur across many generations is called:

a)  Natural selection b) sexual selection

c) population genetics d) biological evolution

e) inheritance of acquired characteristics

2.  Which of the following statements is correct?

a)  mutations are not important in evolution

b)  mutations provide the source for genetic variation that other evolutionary forces may act upon

c)  mutations occur at such a high rate that they promote major changes in the gene pool from one generation to the next

d)  mutations are insignificant when considering evolution of a large population

e)  mutations are of greater importance in larger populations than in smaller ones

3.  What is the end product of the process of natural selection?

a) genetic variation b) adaptation

c) genetic drift d) mutation e) gene flow

4.  Which of the following best describes artificial selection?

a)  Nature selects offspring with desired traits, and they reproduce more successfully

b)  Individuals that are better adapted to their environment survive and reproduce more successfully than others

c)  Organisms on Earth all descend from a common ancestor

d)  Humans select specific organisms to breed to produce offspring with desired traits

e)  Populations produce more offspring that can survive, which leads to competition

5.  Which of these is the best way to determine whether members of a population are from the same species?

a)  they look alike

b)  they are geographically isolated

c)  they can interbreed and produce viable and fertile offspring

d)  they eat the same foods

e)  they mate at the same time of year

6.  Which of the following factors increases genetic variation in a population?

a) sexual reproduction b) asexual reproduction

c) selective breeding d) inbreeding

e) favourable adaptations

7.  Explain why genetic diversity within a population is necessary for evolution.

8.  Explain why it is correct to talk about the evolution of populations, but it is incorrect to talk about the evolution of individual organisms

9.  Differentiate between a geographical barrier to reproduction and a behavioural barrier.

10. Artificial selection can sometimes cause traits that are not desirable, such as joint problems in some breeds of dogs. Does the same thing happen in natural selection?

11. Describe what mimicry is and why it is considered to be an adaptation.

12. How does natural selection influence adaptation?

13. Describe the possible fates of a mutation and the effects a mutation might have on a population. Explain what could happen in a population when a mutation provides a selective advantage.

14. Today, individual giant pandas and populations of giant pandas are being isolated in many small reserves in China. What are the genetic implications of having so many small reserves instead of one large reserve? What could be done to encourage gene flow?

15. Technology that enables humans to manipulate the development of species has economic and environmental implications. Explain how monocultures can be positive and negative at the same time.