Name:

Date:

Period:

Evidence for Evolution

Theodosius Dobzhansky, a geneticist whose work influenced 20th century research on evolutionary
theory, said, "Nothing in biology makes sense, except in light of evolution." This quote emphasizes the
role of evolution as the most important unifying principle in biology. Living things might, at first, seem
very diverse, but closer inspection reveals a surprising unity. This unity, or common ancestry, can be
explained by evolutionary theory. With such an important theory at stake, it is essential to understand
the evidence upon which it is based.
The Task
In this Evolution activity you will investigate a variety of types of evidence for evolution. Your team
will be responsible for learning about fossil evidence, structural evidence, and genetic evidence for
evolution and presenting this information to the class.

The Process
In your lab group, assign each member a number from 1-4.

1.

Group 1: Paleontology (the fossil record)

Group 2: Comparative anatomy/physiology (the structure and function of organisms)
Group 3: Comparative embryology (the structure and function of fetuses)
Group 4: Molecular biology (genetics, sometimes this is called biochemical evidence and involves
both gene sequencing and protein/amino acid sequencing)

2. All specialists in each group (1-4) meet together to research online, read in their book, discuss, and
take notes on their specific topic.

3. Specialists are to explain their topic/define vocabulary (listed below) and find 1 example for the

evidence of evolution in their area of study. Each specialist will fill out the Teaching/Learning Notes
page attached to help them prepare to teach their home group about their topic later on.

All students will then go back to their lab groups. Specialists will teach their lab group about their
4. topic. As a group, use butcher paper to make a chart of your collective information similar to the one
shown below or you can create your own way to display this information.

Area of Interest
Fossil Record (Paleontology)

Evidence (describe & draw)

Significance

Comparative Anatomy/Physiology
Comparative Embryology
Molecular Biology

Below are suggested resources for study. By going to the following website, you can find direct
links to all of the other sites listed below.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/educators/lessons/lesson3/act2.html

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Paleontologists: Textbook pp. 302-304

Vocabulary: superposition, fossil record
Internet Sources:
Fossils Can Show How Certain Features Evolved
Transitional Vertebrate Fossils FAQ
Mother of All Mammals (search for "Andre Wyss" and
"Andrew Knoll")
Shaking the Family Tree
Evolution Makes Sense of Homologies
The Nature of Fossils
Dating Fossils
Getting into the Fossil Record
------------------------------------------------------------------------Comparative Anatomists and Embryologists: Textbook
pp. 305-306
Vocabulary: homologous, vestigial, embryology, embryo
Internet Sources:
Evidence Supporting Biological Evolution (see "Common
Structures")
How Scientists Study Evolution (search for "Evolution,"
click on "How Scientists Study Evolution," and look for
"Anatomical Similarities")
What Is Morphology and Why Is It Important?
Fossils Can Show How Certain Features Evolved
It's a Bird, It's a Dinosaur?
Dunking the Trunk (search for "Dunking the Trunk")
------------------------------------------------------------------------Molecular Biologists: Textbook pp. 306-307
Vocabulary: molecular biology, DNA sequence, amino
acid sequence
Internet Sources:
Evolution Makes Sense of Homologies
Axing the Family Tree
Evidence of Evolution
Chemical Clues to Darwin's Abominable Mystery
Salvaged DNA Leads to Neanderthals' Mystique
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