MAJOR UNDERSTANDINGS

• All organisms come from a common ancestor.

o The DNA of species changes slowly over time in

response to environmental factors.
o Fossils and organism similarities offer proof of this
theory of evolution.
o Classification is used to organize the vast number of
species in existence as a result of evolution.

CRITICAL VOCABULARY
1. evolution 8. geologic time 15. homologous structures
2. natural selection 9. species 16. vestigial structures
3. overproduction 10. fossil record 17. classification
4. variation 11. mutation 18. biological key
5. competition 12. adaptation 19. genus
6. adaptive value 13. antibiotic resistance 20. species
7. survival of the fittest 14. organism similarities 21. scientific name
 EVOLUTION RESOURCES

Textbook Resources

Page # Topic
369-378 History & Background
379-382 Natural selection
382-385 Support for Evolution
397-402 Genetics & Selection
404-410 Speciation
435-440 Patterns of Evolution
386 Summary of Natural Selection
417-422 Fossil Record Evidence
447-463 Classification
833-841 Human Evolution

Internet Resources
Explore learning
www.explorelearning.com

The Zoo of You

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/beta/evolution/zoo-you.html

PBS Evolution Videos

www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/

Eyes of Nye: Antibiotic Resistance

http://media.monroe.edu/?g=58d4da7c-cb02-11de-b135-002219c0509d

Classifying Organisms
www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/orchid/classifying.html

Classification practice
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/beta/evolution/classifying-life.html

YouTube: Classification song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnF_UdPbJZ0

Walking with Cavemen

http://media.monroe.edu/?p=f5c28330-1040-11df-944c-002219c0509d

Caveman Challenge
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/prehistoric_life/games/cavemen/

1
 ORGA
ANISM
M SIMIL
LARIT
TIES

C
COMPARA
ATIVE AN
NATOMY
 

SAM HOMOLOGOUS
ME STRUCTURES = _____
___________ STRUCTURES
__________ - _____ 
___________
similarities in distantly related species

COMPAR
RATIVE BIO
OCHEMISTRY

  STTRUCTURES YYOU DON’T NEED OR USE

VESTIGIAL
 _____________ STRUCTURES
___________
____________
_ 

orgnaisms have these

because their common
ancestor must have needed
SAMEE CHEMICA
AL MAKE‐U
UP  them. (ex. tailbone,
appendix)
same four DNA bases & same 5 basic chemicals (P,O,N,C,H)

MPARATIIVE EMBR
COM RYOLOGY

(SIM
MILARITIIES IN EMBRYOS)
embryos of distantly related species
have a simila appearance
2
 Q
QUESTIO
ON 1 WH
HY ARE T
THERE S
SO MANY
Y SIMILA
ARITIES IN DIFFE
ERENT
TYPES OF
T F ORGAN
NISMS?

THEOR
RY 1 MA
AYBE WE CAME FROM A A COMMO ON ANCE
ESTOR W
WHO
CH
HANGED LITTLE BIT BY L
LITTLE B
BIT TO A
ADJUST T
TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

 TO TEST
T THAT TH
HEORY, LETT’S LOOK A
AT THE FOSSSIL RECOR
RD OF A HORSE AND
D OF MAN. 
a fossil is the rmains of an organism
preserved over time

in these images, you can see SMALL CHANGES OVER TIME

FO
OSSILS SSHOW THESEE SMALLL CHA
ANGES FFROM SIMPLLE TO 
CO
OMPLEX R TIMEE…TRUE EVID
X OVER DENCE OF EV
VOLUT TION.

3
 EXPLORE LEARNING GIZMO: NATURAL SELECTION

VOCABULARY:
Biological evolution – change in the inherited traits of a population of organisms that occurs over many
generations. Biological evolution refers to changes in populations of organisms over time.
Camouflage – coloring or markings that help an organism blend in with its surroundings.
Lichen – a combination of two organisms, a fungus and algae. It forms a thin “crust” on rocks and trees.
Natural selection – the process by which favorable inherited traits become more common over time.
Natural selection assumes the following: (1) More organisms are born than can survive and reproduce.
(2) Organisms compete for limited resources and survival. (3) There are variations between organisms,
and these variations can be inherited. (4) Some variations make an organism more likely to survive and
reproduce. Over time, favorable variations will spread throughout a population, while unfavorable
variations become less frequent.
Peppered moth – a moth found in Europe, Asia, and North America. Two
peppered moth morphs are shown in the Gizmo: a light gray variety called a
typica, and a dark variety, called a carbonaria.

PRIOR KNOWLEDGE QUESTIONS:

Birds are a frequent predator of the peppered moth.
1. Which do you think would be easier to see on a dark tree trunk? Light or Dark
2. Which do you think would be easier to see on a light tree trunk? Light or Dark

INTRODUCTION:
The Natural Selection game allows you to play the role of a bird feeding on peppered moths. The initial
population of 40 moths is scattered over 20 tree trunks.
Click on moths to capture them. Click the Next tree button or hit the spacebar on your keyboard to
advance to the next tree.
1. Check that LIGHT TREES is selected. Click Start and hunt moths for one year.
A. How many dark moths did you capture? ____________
B. How many light moths did you capture? ____________
C. Camouflage is coloring or patterns that help an organism to blend in with the background.

Which type of moth is better camouflaged on light bark? Light or Dark

2. If a forest had mostly light trees, which type of moth would be most common? Light or Dark

4
ACTIVITY A: LIGHT TREES
Introduction: Before the 19th century in England, the air was very clean. The bark on trees was usually
light in color. Abundant lichens growing on tree trunks also lightened their appearance.
Question: How does the color of a peppered moth affect survival?
1. Predict: Over time, what will to happen to the populations of light and dark moths on light trees?

2. Experiment: Click Start and hunt peppered moths on light tree trunks for five years. In each year,
try to capture as many moths as you can. (Hint: Use the spacebar on your keyboard to advance to
the next tree.)
After 5 years, select the TABLE tab and record the percentages of each moth type that are alive at
the end of each year.

Year Dark moths at end of year Light moths at end of year

0 50% 50%
1
2
3
4
5 100%
0%
3. Analyze: What do your results show?
OVERTIME, THE PROPORTION OF DARK MOTHS DECREASES WHILE THE LIGHT MOTHS
INCREASE
4. Apply: Which type of moth do you think was more common before the 19th century, when most
trees were light in color?
LIGHT MOTHS

ACTIVITY B: DARK TREES

Introduction: The 19th century was the time of the Industrial Revolution in England. Most of the new
industries used coal for energy, and the air was polluted with black soot. In forests near factories, the
soot coated trees and killed lichens. As a result, tree trunks became darker.
Question: How did air pollution affect moth populations?
1. Predict: Over time, what will to happen to the populations of light and dark moths on dark trees?

2. Experiment: Click Start and hunt peppered moths on dark tree trunks for five years. In each year, try
to capture as many moths as you can. (Hint: You can use the spacebar on your keyboard to advance
to the next tree.)

5
 When you are done, select the TABLE tab and record the percentages of each moth type.
Year Dark moths Light moths
0 50%
50%
1
2
3
4
5 100% 0%
OVERTIME, THE DARK MOTHS INCREASED WHILE THE
3. Analyze: What do your results show? LLIGHT MOTHS DECREASED
4. Apply: Which type of moth do you think was more common during the 19th century? Why?

DARK MOTHS BECAUS THEY COULD BLEND IN

5. Draw conclusions: Natural selection is the process by which favorable traits tend to increase in
frequency over time.
 In this experiment, what was the natural force that selected the most favorable moths to survive?

MOTH COLORATION

 Why are some moths light and some dark? Use the word DNA in your answer.

ALL MOTHS HAVE DIFFERENT DNA THAT CODES FOR TRAITS SUCH AS COLORATION.

6. Think and discuss: Circle the choice that best describes how the moth population changed:
a) individual moths changing colors before dying
b) all moths deciding to get new traits
c) best-hidden moths surviving and passing on their colors to their offspring

Explain your answer choice in the space below.

MOTHS ARE EITHER BORN WITH THE DNA THAT ALLOWS THEM TO BLEND IN SO THAT
THEY SURVIVE AND PASS ON THEIR DNA (TRAITS), OR THEY ARE BORN WITH DNA THAT
CAUSES THEM TO BE SEEN, THUS NOT PASSING ON THAT DNA/TRAIT.

6
Activity B (continued from previous page)

5. Draw conclusions: Natural selection is the process by which favorable traits tend to increase in frequency
over time. How does this experiment illustrate natural selection?
In each experiemnt, the favorable trait was the trait that allowed the moth to blend in more effectively
_________________________________________________________________________

to the tree-trunk background. When trees were light in color, the light-colored moths increased in
_________________________________________________________________________

frequency. When the trees were dark in color, the dark colored moths increased in frequency.
_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

6. Think and discuss: Did the changes you observed in the moth populations result from individual moths
changing colors? Or did they occur because the best-hidden moths survived and reproduced, passing on
their colors to their offspring? Explain your answer.
No individual moths changed colors. each year, the best hidden moths survived and
_________________________________________________________________________

reproduced. This caused an increase in frequeny of well-hidden moths over time.

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

7. Extend your thinking: Biological evolution is the process by which populations of organisms change over
time. How could natural selection lead to evolution? If possible, discuss your answer with your classmates
and teacher.
In this simulation, natural selection caused the populations of moths to change in color.
_________________________________________________________________________

This is an example of evolutino because evolution is any change in a population over

_________________________________________________________________________

time. Other variations could occur in the moths, allowing them to be even better
_________________________________________________________________________
camoflauged than they currently are. If this happened, natural selectin would cause
_________________________________________________________________________
that new trait to spread throughout the population.
_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

7
 QUESTION 2: HOW DO THESE SMALL CHANGES SHOWN BY FOSSIL
EVIDENCE COME ABOUT…WHY DOES EVOLUTION HAPPEN?

THEORY 2: CHARLES DARWIN BELIEVED THAT EVOLUTION

OCCURS BECAUSE OF THE BASIC PROCESS OF NATURAL SELECTION.
The environment chooses!
The environmental conditions
LET’S EXPLORE HOW NATURAL SELECTION WORKS. select which traits will survive
and reproduce

1. more offspring are created than can survive in a limited environment

Living organisms overproduce: ________________________________________________________________

Other examples:
mice, ants, rats, bacteria, etc.

Spiders Turtles

offspring from the same parent are genetically different

2. There is Variation among the offspring: ___________________________________________________________

a. This variation is caused by:

i. Mutations: changes in your DNA (addition, substitution or deletion of base(s)

sex
1. Mutations will only affect evolution if they are in the ______________cells
sperm and egg
(____________________). gametes

ii. Sexual Reproduction (Meiosis creating gametes that are all different)
due to gene recombination (shuffling) and crossing over
8
 resources that will run out - final
3. There are not enough resources for all of these overproduced offspring (finite resources), so the organisms
begin to compete in a struggle for survival.

a. Each organism will need to find:

ii. food/water
______________________
shelter
iii. ______________________

mates
iv. ______________________

4. Some organisms will have traits that help them to compete better than others. These traits are called

adaptations
__________________________________________________.

1. Some examples of adaptations include:

a. camouflage

b. webbed feet

c. longer beaks

Survival of the Fittest

5. ____________________________________________________--> Those organisms that are best adapted to a
reproduce
particular environment will be able to survive long enough to ______________________.
adaptations
a. This assures that positive traits (_____________________) are passed on to future generation and the
species evolves over time. This evolution occurs with small changes over time…little bit by little bit.

NATURAL SELECTION = THE ENVIRONMENT SELECTING THE MOST ADAPTED ORGANISMS TO SURVIVE.

9
 NATURAL SELECTION AN OVERVIEW
1. Organisms reproduce making more individuals than can survive (OVERPOPULATION).

2. The individuals in the species are all different due meiosis, mutations and gene expression
(GENETIC VARIATION).

3. The individuals of a species will need to compete for limited resources such as food, water,
shelter and mates. (COMPETITION)

4. In this competition, some individuals will have an advantage for survival in the specific
environment….a competitive edge. (ADVANTAGE = ADAPTATION)

5. Those with the advantage will win the competition and survive to reproduce again (SURVIVAL
OF THE FITTEST).

10
 NATURAL SELECTION
OPENER/CLOSER REVIEW

1. Certain insects resemble the bark of the trees on which they live. Which statement provides a possible
biological explanation for this resemblance?

2 1. The insects needed camouflage so they developed protective coloration.

2. Natural selection played a role in the development of this protective coloration.
3. The lack of mutations resulted in the protective coloration.
4. The trees caused mutations in the insects that resulted in protective coloration.

2. Scientists are increasingly concerned about the possible effects of damage to the ozone layer.

Damage to the ozone layer has resulted in mutations in skin cells that lead to cancer. Will the mutations
that caused the skin cancers be passed on to offspring? Support your answer. [1]

No, they will not pass to the offspring because only mutations found in the sperm and egg cells will
_______________________________________________________________________________________

pass on to the offspring.

______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

3. A certain species has little genetic variation. The rapid extinction of this species would most likely result
from the effect of

1. successful cloning
3
2. gene manipulation
3. environmental change
4. genetic recombination

11
NATURAL SELECTION REGENTS QUESTION

The bats will compete for food.

The bats with the stronger fight muscles will survive more than those without
because they will get more food.

The bats with stronger flight muscles will increase in frequency over time.

12
QUESTION 3: HOW DOES EVOLUTION ALLOW FOR THE CREATION OF NEW SPECIES?

THEORY 3: SPECIATION: WHEN A SPECIES IS SEPARATED INTO TWO DIFFERING ENVIRONMENTS, THE
ADAPTATIONS THAT ARE SELECTED FOR BECOME SO DIFFERENT THAT TWO NEW SPECIES RESULT.

STEPS OF SPECIATION
2
1. Members of the same species live together.
2. A geographic barrier separates the species into
two groups that must now live apart.
3. The environment on each side of the barrier is
different.
4. Because of natural selection, the differing 3&4
environments select for different adaptive
traits.
5. Eventually, the species become so different
from each other that they are now 2 separate
species…NEW SPECIES ARE FORMED.

13
 Use the diagram to complete the exercise. The following
statements involve events that can result in the formation of a
SPECIATION new species. Number them from 1-6 in the proper order.

animals are separated into two groups and must now

3
live apart

4 environments on either side of the river change with

time

1 animals of the same species living on either side of a

stream can move from one side to the other
2
the stream changes into a river

5 animals, due to natural selection, undergo change

6 after thousands of years, two different species of

animals form

the environmental changes

got so exterme that 2 new
species were created

has traits that

14
are good
has traits that are good adaptations for
adaptations for the warm the cold...white
climate...brown fur, light fur, fur, fluffy fur,
larger ears padded feet
QUESTION 4: HOW DO BACTERIA AND OTHER ASEXUALLY REPRODUCING SPECIES EVOLVE?

THEORY 4: DURING ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION, ONE ORGANISM UNDERGOES A BENEFICIAL MUTATION

AND OVERTIME, THIS TRAIT WILL OUT-COMPETE THE OTHERS GIVING RISE TO A NEW SPECIES.

medicine not affected

ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE bacteria not destroyed/
killed by medicine

resistant bacteria have

no competition, so they
can multipy readily 15
 Natural Selection and Speciation Regents
Question
68. In the past, a specific antibiotic was effective in killing a certain species of
bacteria. Now, most members of this bacterial species are resistant to this
antibiotic. Explain how this species of bacteria has become resistant. Your
answer must include the concepts of:
 Overproduction (1)
 Variation (1)
 Natural selection (1)
 Adaptation to the environment (1)

________________________________________________________________________
Bacteria overproduce, creating more than can survive.
________________________________________________________________________

Some bacteria are different from the others due to random mutations.
________________________________________________________________________

Those bacteria who are different in the way that makes them unable to be killed
________________________________________________________________________
by the antibiotic have an adaptation to the environment.
________________________________________________________________________
The environment will select those adapted bacteria to live and reproduce (natural
selection)
________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

16
QUESTION 5: HOW SHOULD WE SHOW THESE EVOLUTIONARY RELATIONSHIPS ?

THEORY 5: EVOLUTIONARY RELATIONSHIP PATTERNS RESEMBLE A TREE OR A

BUSH…LETS MAKE THE CONNECTIONS AND CALL THEM CLADOGRAMS.

• How are Evolutionary Relationships similar to a tree or bush.

 some branches just stop growing: this represents Extinction (the end of that species)

 some branches split into two new branches: this represents Speciation (the creation of two new
species due to separation into two different environments.

 some branches continue on unchanged: this is an already adapted species in a more constant
environment.

to determine how close two species are related,, trace them back
on the cladogram. The species with the most recent common
ancestor are the most commonly related.

17
18
19
20
 Cladogram Regents Question

frog horse pig gorilla

gel electrophoresis compares DNA. Comparing DNA is always the most reliable as

the environment can change the expression of the DNA.

21
 CLADOGRAM
C  REGENTS QU
UESTIONS 

11. Which sttatement con

ncerning the evolution off species A, B
B, C, D, andd E is supporrted by the ddiagram
below?

1. Species Baand C can bee found in to

oday's enviroonments.
2. Species A and D evolvved from E.
3. Species A and C can still
s interbreeed.
4. Species A, B, and E alll evolved from a commoon ancestor and all are ssuccessful tooday.

22. Some evo

olutionary pathways are represented
d in the diagrram below.

An infereence that can

n be made frrom informattion in the ddiagram is that

1. Many of th he descendan nts of organism B becam

me extinct
2. Organism B was probaably much laarger than anny of the othher organism ms representeed
3. Most of thhe descendan nts of organism B successsfully adaptted to their eenvironment and have
su
urvived to th
he present tim
me
4. The letterss above orgaanism B represent membbers of a singgle large poppulation withh much
biodiversity

22
33. The diagram below represents
r po
ossible evolu
utionary relaationships beetween groupps of organissms.

Which statement is a valid concllusion that can

c be drawnn from the diiagram?

11. Snails apppeared on Eaarth before corals.

c
22. Sponges were
w the lastt new speciees to appear on
o Earth.
33. Earthworm ms and sea stars
s have a common
c anccestor.
44. Insects arre more compplex than maammals.

44. The evolutionary patthways of ten

n different sp
pecies are reepresented inn the diagram
m below.

wo species arre the most closely

Which tw c related?

1. C and
a D
2. E and
a I
3. G and
a J
4. A and
a F

23
 fish

reptiles and birds

birds

lizards

24
 wings

fish

chimpanzee and bonobo

gibbon

25
 CLASSIFICATION
(How we _____________________ the species that have resulted from evolution)
ORGANIZE

 LATIN
Classification is done in ___________________________ to assure all nations are consistent.
 An organism’s scientific name is its Genus species. For example:
o Grizzly bear = Ursas horibles
HOMO sapien
o Human = ____________________ __________________________________
o Dog = Canine domesticas

 Classification uses 7 taxonomic levels that help show how closely organisms are related. The
more
more levels they share, the ____________ closely related the organisms are.
 These 7 levels are:

KINGDOM

• There are five kingdoms:  Plant, Animal, Monera, Protista & Fungi

PHYLUM
CLASS
ORDER
FAMILY

GENUS
Scientific Name
SPECIES

26
Dichotomous Key Regents Question

4 LEGS DOG

8 LEGS SPIDER

FINS FISH

NO FINS WORM

27
 Evolution Review

Vocabulary
1. evolution 9. species
2. natural selection 10. fossil record
3. overproduction 11. mutation 17. classification
4. variation 12. adaptation 18. biological key
5. competition 13. antibiotic resistance 19. genus
6. adaptive value 14. organism similarities 20. species
7. survival of the fittest 15. homologous structures 21. scientific name
8. geologic time 16. vestigial structures

Key Concepts
You should be able to…
• analyze and Create dichotomous keys to identify various organisms
• understand reasons for classification and identifies the 7 major classification groupings
• relate the concepts of overproduction variation, competition and survival of the fittest to natural
selection
• explain how fossil record, similar anatomy, similar embryos and similar biochemistry all provide
evidence of the theory of evolution
• determine evolutionary relationships by analyzing an evolutionary tree
• recognize and explain conditions that can result in speciation
• explain the circumstances that cause a species to become resistant to antibiotics, pesticides, etc

Major Understandings

• All organisms come from a common ancestor.

o The DNA of species changes slowly over time in response to environmental factors.

o Fossils and organism similarities offer proof of this theory of evolution.

o Classification is used to organize the vast number of species in existence as a result of evolution.
 Natural Selection
What are the five main points in the theory of natural selection and evolution? Give an example for each.

1. Living things overproduce (more spiders are born than can survive in an environment)
2. There is variation among the species (due to sexual reproduction, each organism produced is different)
3. Organisms compete against one another for food, shelter, mates, etc. (who will get to live in the best
tree? Eat the best food?)
4. The best adapted individual will win the competition…SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST (the flashiest
male will get the female, the fastest organism will catch the prey, etc.)
5. The fittest organisms not only survive…they reproduce and pass on their genes to future generations.

What does genetic variation mean? What are the two sources of genetic variation?

Genetic variation means having different genes. The two sources of this are sexual reproduction and
mutations.

What is the process shown below? SPECIATION

Describe each step in this process.

STEPS OF SPECIATION
1. Members of the same species live together.
2. A geographic barrier separates the species into two groups that must now live
apart.
3. The environment on each side of the barrier is different.
4. Because of natural selection, the differing environments select for different
adaptive traits.
5.Eventually, the species become so different from each other that they are now 2
separate species…NEW SPECIES ARE FORMED.
Evidence of evolution
Using the graphic organizer below list, and describe/define/draw four similarities that are found among
organisms of different species that give evidence that we all came from a common ancestor.

Comparative Anatomy – organisms Comparative embryology

from different species share similar organisms from different species
physical characteristics (similar bone had many similarities in the
structures) and some organisms have various stages of embryo development.
vestigial structures that they possess (for example, human embryos have
but do not need (appendix, tail bone) gills at one point in embryo dev’p)

Comparative Biochemistry – organisms Fossils – these show us the

From different species all have the small changes in organisms
Same four DNA bases and all have over time, thus giving
The same five elements in their chemical evidence of how one
Make-up (Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen organism may have originated
Nitrogen and Phosphorous) as a variation of another.

Classification
What are the seven taxonomic levels? Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species

Which two make up an organisms scientific name? Genus, species

What does a cladogram help people visualize? The evolutionary pathway from one organism to another.
You can determine common ancestors and evolutionary relationships.

Using a cladogram, how can you tell how closely related two organisms are? The closer they are on the
cladogram (if they share a recent common ancestor), the more closely related they are.

What is a dichotomous key? It is a key that describes physical characteristics, giving two choices for
each…your answer leads you to the next 2-choice description until you end up identifying the species of
the organism in question.
Base your answer to the question on one of the cartoons below, which refer to certain concepts of natural selection,
and on your knowledge of biology.

Choose one cartoon and write its number in the space below. Identify one concept of natural selection represented in
that cartoon, and explain how this concept supports the theory of natural selection. Your answer must:
• identify one concept represented in the cartoon you choose [1]
• briefly explain the concept you identified [1]
• explain the relationship between this concept and the process of natural selection [1]

Cartoon Number: ________

__ # 1 . Overproduction  more organisms are born than will survive to reproduce in adulthood.
Those organisms that survive will do so because they are the best adapted to the environmental
conditions (for example, the best camoflauge so they aren’t eaten, or the fastest, so they can catch their
prey).

__#2. Survival of the Fittest  those organisms most fit to live in an environment will survive. If the
organism has characteristics (speed, intelligence, size, camoflauge, etc.) that help them be best adapted to
the environment, then they will survive to reproduce and pass on those characteristics.
Regents Evolution and Classification Questions

1.) In order for new species to develop, there must be a change in the

(1) temperature of the environment

(2) migration patterns within a population
(3) genetic makeup of a population
(4) rate of succession in the environment

2.) Which statement is not part of the concept of natural selection?

(1) Individuals that possess the most favorable variations will have the best
chance of reproducing.
(2) Variation occurs among individuals in a population
(3) More individuals are produced than will survive.
(4) Genes of an individual adapt to a changing environment.

3.) The diagram below shows the evolution of some different species of flowers.

Which statement about the species is correct?

(1) Species A, B, C, and D came from different

ancestors.
(2) Species C evolved from species B.
(3) Species A, B, and C can interbreed
successfully.
(4) Species A became extinct.

4.) Which statement concerning production of offspring is correct?

(1) Production of offspring is necessary for a species to survive, but it is not
necessary for an individual to survive.
(2) An organism can reproduce without\ performing any of the other life
processes.
(3) Production of offspring is necessary for an individual organism to survive,
while the other life processes are important for a species to survive.
(4) Reproduction is a process that requires gametes in all species.
 5.) Which statement describes asexual reproduction?
(1) Adaptive traits are usually passed from parent to offspring without genetic
modification.
(2) Mutations are not passed from generation to generation.
(3) It always enables organisms to survive in changing environmental
conditions.
(4) It is responsible for many new variations in offspring.

6.) The bones in the forelimbs of three mammals are shown at right.

For these mammals, the number, position, and shape of the bones most likely indicates
that they may have

(1) developed in a common environment

(2) developed from the same earlier species
(3) identical genetic makeup
(4) identical methods of obtaining food

Base your answers to questions 7 and 8 on the diagram

below and on your knowledge of biology.
Letters A through J represent different species
of organisms. The vertical distances between
the dotted lines represent long periods of time
in which major environmental changes
occurred.

7.) Which species was the first to become

extinct?

(1) E (2) J (3) C (4) D

8.) Which species appears to have been most successful in surviving changes in
the environment over time?

(1) A (2) B (3) C (4) H

 9.) When antibiotics were first developed, most infectious diseases could be
controlled by them. Today, certain bacteria are resistant to many antibiotics. One
possible explanation for this change is
(1) the antibiotics killed most of the bacteria that did not have a genetic
variation for resistance
(2) the bacteria needed to change in order to produce more antibiotics
(3) some of the bacteria learned how to resist the antibiotics
(4) antibiotics have become weaker over the years

Base your answers to questions 10 through 14 on the information below.

Color in peppered moths is controlled by genes. A light-colored variety and a dark-

colored variety of a peppered moth species exist in nature. The moths often rest on tree
trunks, and several different species of birds are predators of this moth. Before
industrialization in England, the light-colored variety was much more abundant than the
dark-colored variety and evidence indicates that many tree trunks at that time were
covered with light-colored lichens. Later, industrialization developed and brought
pollution which killed the lichens leaving the tree trunks covered with dark-colored soot.
The results of a study made in England are shown.

10.)State one possible reason that a

larger number of the dark-colored
variety were present in the polluted
environment.

Because the dark colored moths would

blend in with the polluted trees and
therefore be camouflaged for survival

11.)State one possible reason that the light-colored variety was not completely
eliminated from the polluted environment.

Perhaps those light colored moths had other characteristics that allowed them to
escape the predators. Also, there is variety in a species and additional white
moths might still be born.
 12.)During the past few decades, air pollution control laws in many areas of England
greatly limited the soot and other air pollutants coming from the burning of coal.
State one way the decrease in soot and other air pollutants will most likely
influence the survival of the light-colored variety of peppered moth.

More light colored moths will survive because as pollution is decreased, there
will be more light colored trees for the light moths to blend in with.

13.)The percentage of light-colored moths in the polluted environment was closest to

(1) 16 (2) 24 (3) 42 (4) 76

14.)Which conclusion can best be drawn from the information given?

(1) The trait for dark coloration better suits the peppered moth for survival in
non-polluted environments.
(2) The trait for light coloration better suits the peppered moth for survival in
polluted environments.
(3) The variation of color in the peppered moth has no influence on survival of
the moth.
(4) A given trait may be a favorable adaptation in one environment, but not in
another environment.
 Beaks of Finches Regents Question

THEY EAT DIFFERENT FOODS, SO THEY WON'T COMPETE

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Target #1
Use the information in the two diagrams below to answer the questions.
Human Horse Chimpanzee

How does this information support the idea that all humans, chimpanzees and horses are all related?

They have similar bone structure in their arms/legs and they all contain amino acids.

Explain which two of those three are more closely related using evidence.
Human and Chimpanzee are more closely related as their limb structures are more similar and they have
an identical sequence of amino acids.

Target # 2
How does the diagram show an example of:

Overproduction: more mice than the

environment can support

Variation: some mice are white while

others are grey...due to different
genes in their DNA
Competition:
the mice compete to stay
alive and not get eaten
Survival of the fittest:
The mice that blend in are not eaten, so they can survive long enough to reproduce.

How do all of these ideas relate to explain the evolution of the mice?
Evolution is a change in species over time. The fact that the grey mice blend in to the environment means
that they will survive, reproduce and might eventually create a species of grey mice.
Target #3
Several thousand years ago a flock of migrating
hawks was driven from its normal route by a severe
storm. The birds ended up on two different islands,
as shown on the map. The environment of island A
is mostly rocks and cliffs like the original nesting
ground. The environment of island B is a dense
forest. The hawks have survived on these islands to
the present day with no migration between the
populations. When put together the hawks can no
longer breed.

Explain how this demonstrates speciation using the terms barrier, isolation, and environment.
The distance between the islands created a barrier that isolated the birds. Since the environment on each island
was different, the adaptations that were selected for were different. Over time, this created two unique species
that cannot breed together any longer.

Target #4
Base your answer to the question on the
scatter-plot graph and on your knowledge
of biology. The graph shows changes in the
percentage of vancomycin-resistant
bacteria in a population between the years
1983 and 2001.

Explain why the percentage of resistant bacteria increased over time. Use the terms natural selection, mutation
and antibiotic in your answer.
Iin 1989, there was a mutation in one bacteria that made it resistant to the antibiotic. Over time, this mutation
was selected (natural selection) by the environment to live and it reproduced to make more resistant bacteria.
Target #5
The diagram below shows a branching “tree” representing the evolution of ten different groups of organisms
alive today.

What group is the common ancestor of all the other groups?

Protozoa
Identify the group of organisms that is most closely related to the Arthropoda group. Support your answer.

Annelida

Target #6
The dichotomous key below provides a way to classify some animals into groups according to their physical
characteristics. The key can be used to classify each of the four animals represented below.

Which row in the chart shows the correct classification group for each animal?
Wasp Ant Tiger Bird
1 group D group D group A group B
2 group B group A group D group C
4
3 group B group D group A group C
4 group D group A group A group B
 TARGET TRACKING - EVOLUTION

1 – Please help 2 – Shaky, I kind 3 – I’m good. I just 4 – I got this! Next
me. I am clueless. of understand but I need some more topic please!
I will come see would like some practice to solidify
I can…
you during RB help. I will come my understanding
see you during RB so I will do HW to
practice.
1. Analyze and explain how information from
organism’s similarities (comparative
anatomy, comparative biochemistry,
comparative embryology) and fossils
provide evidence to support the theory of
evolution

2. Construct an explanation to connect

overproduction, variation, competition and
survival of the fittest to the process of
evolution

3. Explain how speciation occurs.

4. Construct an explanation for how natural

selection and speciation can result in a
species becoming resistant to antibiotics,
pesticides, etc

5. Interpret evolutionary relationships by

analyzing an evolutionary tree/cladogram.

6. Analyze and construct dichotomous keys to

identify various organisms.

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