Biology Unit Activity Unit 6: Evolution Introduction Evolution is one of the most important concepts in biology. Over the past 300 years, scientists have been theorizing about how the earth and the species on the Earth grow and evolve. You will examine various theories about evolution and explore some of the major concepts. Task This activity has two parts. The first part you will be creating a concept table of the theories of evolution. You will be given the names of nine scientists that have had an impact on what we currently believe about evolution and you will explore their ideas and theories. For the second part of this task you will be answering a culminating essay question. Record any research references you used in the References section, below. Process Task #1 Concept Table 1. You will complete a table that follows the theories of evolution through time. 2. Your table will include the following scientists: Linnaeus Hutton Lamarck Malthus Cuvier Lyell Darwin Mendel Wallace 3. The table will include the name of the scientist, approximate dates, explanations of their concepts they explored, and the general theory or topic they are credited with. Copyright 2010 PLATO Learning, Inc. All rights reserved. PLATO, Straight Curve, and Academic Systems are registered trademarks of PLATO Learning, Inc. PLATO Learning is a trademark of PLATO Learning, Inc. PLATO, Inc. is a PLATO Learning, Inc. company. 1
Below is the table you will fill in with an example of what one part of the table might look like. Use the example to guide you with how much detail is required and how in-depth your responses must be. Be sure to include the following key terms somewhere in your table. Key Terms: gradualism, catastrophism, taxonomy, use & disuse theory, paleontology, binomial nomenclature, evolution, natural selection, uniformitarianism, inheritance Year Scientist Concepts General Theory/Topic Created a naming system that is based on common anatomy Mid Carolus His naming system is called binomial nomenclature 1700 s Linnaeus where the scientific name is based on the genus and specie of the organism This system was used later by Darwin Taxonomy James Hutton Jean Baptiste Lamarck Thomas Malthus Georges Cuvier Charles Lyell Charles Darwin Mendel Wallace 2
Task #2: Summary Question: Darwin is credited with coming up with the theories of Evolution and Natural Selection. Write a paragraph on how the ideas of other scientists influenced Darwin s ideas and ultimately shaped his philosophies. (Write your response here) Resources Document any references you used for this project below. At minimum, include a title and URL for any Internet resource: 3
Evaluation This project will be evaluated based on the following components: Table and Summary Question Points Possible: 10 Table: 8 points Included all the relevant scientists and was complete Explained all the theories thoroughly and accurately Included correct explanations of the key terms Summary Question: 2 points Highlights our knowledge of evolution today Explains the importance of the findings of the scientists for our understanding today Self-Checked Activity: For Advanced Understanding This may be optional, based on your instructor s directions. The free response test item accessed below is related to this unit s concepts and content, but will draw from your prior Biology knowledge as well. It will challenge your knowledge of the unit concepts, help you tie different concepts together, and help you gain confidence in addressing written response test items. Download #1: Free Response Test Respond to Question 3 Read the Directions section carefully. Answer all parts of the question thoughtfully and concisely, to the extent of your ability. Unless directed otherwise, answer everything in essay form, not bullets, outline, etc. For Scoring #1: Scoring Guidelines See Question 3 Download #2: Free Response Test #2 Respond to Question 2 Read the Directions section carefully. Answer all parts of the question thoughtfully and concisely, to the extent of your ability. Unless directed otherwise, answer everything in essay form, not bullets, outline, etc. For Scoring #2: Scoring Guidelines See Question 2 4
Sample Responses: (Key Terms are in Bold) Year Scientist Concepts General Theory/Topic - created a naming system that is based on common anatomy Mid Carolus - his naming system is called binomial 1700 s Linnaeus nomenclature where the scientific name is based on the genus and specie of the organism Taxonomy - this system was used later by Darwin 1795 1809 James Hutton Jean Baptiste Lamarck 1798 Thomas Malthus - he came up with the theory of gradualism that says that the geologic features of the Earth are due to slow and continuous processes - he said that by looking at the mechanisms that are currently operating, we would get an insight to how the already existing landforms, etc formed - he said that what we see today are the results of a slow but culminating process over millions of years - came up with the use/disuse theory that said that the parts that you use become stronger and the parts that you do not use begin to deteriorate (for example, a giraffe stretching his neck will eventually yield a longer neck) - his other idea was that you can inherit acquired characteristics; which means that traits someone acquired during their lifetime (larger biceps from lifting a lot) will be passed down to their offspring - although both of these theories were later proven incorrect, Lamarck was given much credit for his ideas that evolution was the best explanation for the fossil record and the diversity of life (even though his mechanism was wrong) - populations have the capacity to over reproduce - the populations increase faster than the food supply and other resources allow Gradualism Evolution Populations 5
Early 1800 s Georges Cuvier 1830 s Charles Lyell 1850 s Charles Darwin 1865 Mendel studied many fossils observed that the deeper the fossils were, the more different they are from present organisms came up with the idea of catastrophism which is that the boundary between the levels of fossils must be marked by a catastrophe in time (like a flood or drought) that wiped out many of the organisms in that region, and this accounts for the different groups of fossils incorporated Hutton s gradualism theory into a theory known as uniformitarianism this idea is that the forces that build mountains today are the SAME forces that built the mountains millions of years ago; the rates are the same today as they were in the past this contradicted the current theory that the earth was only 6,000 years old if the processes and rates were the same, the earth had to be MUCH older than 6,000 years came up with the theory of evolution things change over time discovered natural selection as the mechanism for evolution the organisms with the traits best suited for the environment are going to survive and pass on the most offspring to the next generation the product of natural selection is the adaptation of populations of organisms to their environment before Darwin spoke up about his ideas, people thought that the Earth was only 6,000 years old and unchanging he used the ideas of Linnaeus, Lyell, Hutton, and Lamarck to come up with his theories he is known as the father of evolution he did research on his own to support his theories when he was on the research ship called the Beagle; he did a lot of work on the Galapagos islands observing the finches he published his findings in a book called The Origin of Species he is known as the Father of Genetics discovered dominant and recessive traits discovered that we can have copies of genes, now called alleles did much work with pea plants Paleontology Uniformitarianism Evolution Natural Selection Inheritance 6
1858 Wallace he developed a very similar theory to Darwin s about evolution and natural selection he published his ideas EARLIER than Darwin; however, Darwin s book had much more evidence as support and therefore he is given the credit for coming up with the theory of evolution and natural selection Evolution Natural Selection Essay Question- Sample Response: Darwin utilized the ideas of several other scientists when forming his theories of evolution and natural selection. He drew on Hutton s idea of gradualism to determine that the geologic features that we see currently must have been formed over a very gradual process over many years. In conjunction with that, he read about Lyell s idea of uniformitarianism and about how the rate of the processes we observe today are the same as the processes millions of years ago. From those two scientists, he deduced that the earth must be much older than the generally accepted value of 6,000 years. In order to account for the diversity we see in the fossil record and the geologic features present on our planet, the Earth must be millions or billions of years old. (We currently know that the Earth is approximately 4.6 billion years old). Darwin also used the binomial nomenclature system to name the organisms he found. He learned about this from Linnaeus. It also helped Darwin group organisms that he thought were similar. Further, he studied the theories of Lamarck. Although the use and disuse theory and the idea that you could inherit acquired characteristic were both proven untrue, the idea that things change and evolve over time really helped Darwin form his theory of evolution. 7