5.1 Evidence for evolution

Description

Nature of science:
Looking for patterns, trends and discrepancies—there are common features in the bone structure of vertebrate limbs despite their varied use. (3.1)

Understandings:

Evolution occurs when heritable characteristics of a species change.
The fossil record provides evidence for evolution.
Selective breeding of domesticated animals shows that artificial selection can cause evolution.
Evolution of homologous structures by adaptive radiation explains similarities in structure when there are differences in function.
Populations of a species can gradually diverge into separate species by evolution.
Continuous variation across the geographical range of related populations matches the concept of gradual divergence.

Applications and skills:

Application: Development of melanistic insects in polluted areas.
Application: Comparison of the pentadactyl limb of mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles with different methods of locomotion.

Theory of knowledge:

Evolutionary history is an especially challenging area of science because experiments cannot be performed to establish past events or their causes. There are nonetheless scientific methods of establishing beyond reasonable doubt what happened in some cases. How do these methods compare to those used by historians to reconstruct the past?

Utilization:
Syllabus and cross-curricular links:
Physics
Topic 7.1 Discrete energy and radioactivity
Geography
Part 1.3 Patterns in environmental quality and sustainability/Biodiversity and change
Environmental systems and societies
Topic 4 Biodiversity in ecosystems

Directly related questions

20N.1.SL.TZ0.20: What process best explains the formation of different pentadactyl limbs? A. Adaptive...
20N.1.SL.TZ0.20: What process best explains the formation of different pentadactyl limbs? A. Adaptive...
17N.1.SL.TZ0.20:
Which of these structures is not homologous?

[Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparative_anatomy#/media/File:Homology_vertebrates-en.svg and
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Insect_leg_scheme.svg]
17N.1.SL.TZ0.20:
Which of these structures is not homologous?

[Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparative_anatomy#/media/File:Homology_vertebrates-en.svg and
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Insect_leg_scheme.svg]
21M.1.SL.TZ2.20:
Which is an example of speciation?

A. Selective breeding to produce new varieties of the wheat Triticum aestivum with higher crop yield

B. Evolution of different courtship behaviours in separate populations of the cricket Gryllus rubens

C. Natural selection leading to an increase in the frequency of darker individuals of Biston betularia

D. Selective feeding by koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) on Eucalyptus species
21M.1.SL.TZ2.20:
Which is an example of speciation?

A. Selective breeding to produce new varieties of the wheat Triticum aestivum with higher crop yield

B. Evolution of different courtship behaviours in separate populations of the cricket Gryllus rubens

C. Natural selection leading to an increase in the frequency of darker individuals of Biston betularia

D. Selective feeding by koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) on Eucalyptus species
22M.1.HL.TZ1.17: What could be used as evidence for evolution? I. Selective breeding of domesticated animals II....
22M.1.HL.TZ1.17: What could be used as evidence for evolution? I. Selective breeding of domesticated animals II....
22M.1.SL.TZ2.20:
Humans have been improving crop species for thousands of years by cross-breeding plants with desirable characteristics. The photograph shows the changes in dry cobs of corn (Zea mays) over 10 000 years.

[Source: Evolution of Maize Cobs © Robert S. Peabody Institute of Archaeology,
Phillips Academy, Andover, Massachusetts. All Rights Reserved.]

What is the name of the process that was used to produce modern corn?

A. Selective breeding

B. Adaptive radiation

C. Discontinuous variation

D. Natural selection
22M.1.SL.TZ2.20:
Humans have been improving crop species for thousands of years by cross-breeding plants with desirable characteristics. The photograph shows the changes in dry cobs of corn (Zea mays) over 10 000 years.

[Source: Evolution of Maize Cobs © Robert S. Peabody Institute of Archaeology,
Phillips Academy, Andover, Massachusetts. All Rights Reserved.]

What is the name of the process that was used to produce modern corn?

A. Selective breeding

B. Adaptive radiation

C. Discontinuous variation

D. Natural selection
18N.2.HL.TZ0.7b: Outline the causes of variation in one example of continuous variation in humans.
18N.2.HL.TZ0.7b: Outline the causes of variation in one example of continuous variation in humans.
18N.2.HL.TZ0.b: Outline the causes of variation in one example of continuous variation in humans.
19M.1.SL.TZ1.20: Which are examples of homologous structures? A. The wings of bats and butterflies B. The fins...
19M.1.SL.TZ1.20: Which are examples of homologous structures? A. The wings of bats and butterflies B. The fins...
19M.1.SL.TZ1.21: Which is an example of natural selection? A. A giraffe stretching its neck to reach higher...
19M.1.SL.TZ1.21: Which is an example of natural selection? A. A giraffe stretching its neck to reach higher...
19N.1.SL.TZ0.21:
Which pentadactyl limb is adapted for flight?

[Source: adapted from Volkov Vladislav Petrovich, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homology_(biology)#/media/File:Homology_
vertebrates-en.svg and Zebra.element, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bat_mouse_forelimbs.png]
19N.1.SL.TZ0.21:
Which pentadactyl limb is adapted for flight?

[Source: adapted from Volkov Vladislav Petrovich, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homology_(biology)#/media/File:Homology_
vertebrates-en.svg and Zebra.element, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bat_mouse_forelimbs.png]
22N.2.HL.TZ0.8a:
Outline how adaptive radiation provides evidence for evolution.
22N.2.HL.TZ0.8a:
Outline how adaptive radiation provides evidence for evolution.
22N.2.HL.TZ0.a:
Outline how adaptive radiation provides evidence for evolution.
17N.2.HL.TZ0.06c:
Cell biologists play an important role in research into disease, fertility, evolution and many
other areas of science.

Outline the evidence for evolution provided by selective breeding.
17N.2.HL.TZ0.06c:
Cell biologists play an important role in research into disease, fertility, evolution and many
other areas of science.

Outline the evidence for evolution provided by selective breeding.
17N.2.HL.TZ0.c:
Cell biologists play an important role in research into disease, fertility, evolution and many
other areas of science.

Outline the evidence for evolution provided by selective breeding.
18M.1.SL.TZ2.20:
The diagrams show various wings.

[Source: for pterodactyl, bird and bat wings:
John W. Merck, University of Maryland, College Park, Department of Geology;
for insect wing: Halvard Hatlen https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0f/Dip-trichoceridae-wing.png]

Which statement describes the relationship between the structures of the wings?

A. The bat wing and the insect wing are homologous because they have the same function.

B. The limbs of the bird and bat wings are homologous due to convergent evolution.

C. The wings of the pterodactyl and the bat are analogous due to divergent evolution.

D. The bones of the wings of the pterodactyl, bird and bat are homologous as they have a common ancestor.
18M.1.SL.TZ2.20:
The diagrams show various wings.

[Source: for pterodactyl, bird and bat wings:
John W. Merck, University of Maryland, College Park, Department of Geology;
for insect wing: Halvard Hatlen https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0f/Dip-trichoceridae-wing.png]

Which statement describes the relationship between the structures of the wings?

A. The bat wing and the insect wing are homologous because they have the same function.

B. The limbs of the bird and bat wings are homologous due to convergent evolution.

C. The wings of the pterodactyl and the bat are analogous due to divergent evolution.

D. The bones of the wings of the pterodactyl, bird and bat are homologous as they have a common ancestor.
18N.2.SL.TZ0.6b: The human hand is an example of adaptive radiation. Outline adaptive radiation.
18N.2.SL.TZ0.6b: The human hand is an example of adaptive radiation. Outline adaptive radiation.
18N.2.SL.TZ0.b: The human hand is an example of adaptive radiation. Outline adaptive radiation.
18N.2.HL.TZ0.7c: Explain how evolution occurs and which factors can cause the process to be rapid.
18N.2.HL.TZ0.7c: Explain how evolution occurs and which factors can cause the process to be rapid.
18N.2.HL.TZ0.c: Explain how evolution occurs and which factors can cause the process to be rapid.
19M.1.SL.TZ2.20: What is required for natural selection to occur? I. Acquired characteristics II. Advantageous...
19M.1.SL.TZ2.20: What is required for natural selection to occur? I. Acquired characteristics II. Advantageous...
21M.1.HL.TZ1.15: What are the evolutionary origins and functions of homologous structures?
21M.1.HL.TZ1.15: What are the evolutionary origins and functions of homologous structures?
21N.1.SL.TZ0.20: The pentadactyl limbs of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians are examples of which kind of...
21N.1.SL.TZ0.20: The pentadactyl limbs of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians are examples of which kind of...
22M.1.SL.TZ1.20: Mammals, birds and reptiles have an embryonic tail that may disappear during development. What...
22M.1.SL.TZ1.20: Mammals, birds and reptiles have an embryonic tail that may disappear during development. What...

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5.1 Evidence for evolution

Description

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