What students figure out  

By the end of the unit, students develop ideas on natural selection & evolution including:

• Natural selection occurs only if there is both (1) variation in the genetic information between organisms in a population and (2) variation in the expression of that genetic information—that is, trait variation— leads to differences in performance among individuals. The traits that positively affect survival are more likely to be reproduced, and thus are more common in the population. Natural selection leads to adaptation.

• Evolution is a consequence of the interaction of four factors: (1) the potential for a species to increase in population, (2) the genetic variation of individuals in a species due to mutation and sexual reproduction, (3) competition for an environment’s limited supply of resources that individuals need in order to survive and reproduce, and (4) the ensuing proliferation of those organisms that are better able to survive and reproduce in that environment.

• Changes in the physical environment, whether naturally-occurring or human-induced, have contributed to the expansion of some species, the emergence of new distinct species, and the decline–and sometimes the extinction–of species.

• Genetic information provides evidence of evolution; multiple lines of descent can be inferred by comparing the DNA sequences of different organisms.

DEVELOPMENT TEAM

• Renee Affolter, Lead Instructor NGSX and Vermont Science Initiative, VT

• Vicki Brown, High School Biology Teacher, Denver Public Schools, Denver, CO.

• Jill F. Carter, Science and Environmental Education Consultant, Pekin, IL

• Kate Cook Whitt, Assistant Professor of Education, Thomas College, Waterville, ME

• Holly Devaul, Mgr. of Educational Programs at University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO

• Kelsey Edwards, Research Coordinator, Northwestern University School of Education and Social Policy, Evanston, IL

• Katy Fattaleh, K-8 Instructional Coach, South Park School, Deerfield, IL

• Mike Fumagalli, Assistant Dean of Students, Glenbard East High School, Glenbard, IL

• Holly Hereau, High School Science Teacher, Thurston High School, Redford, MI

• Stephanie Hervey, k-8 STEM Curriculum Specialist, Denver Public Schools, Denver, CO

• Kent Hups, High School Biology Teacher, Adams 12 Five Star School, Thornton, CO

• Jennifer Jacobs, Research Associate, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO

• Mike Kraft, High School Biology Teacher, Denver Public Schools, Denver, CO.

• Kevin Lindauer, High School Biology Teacher, Denver Public Schools, Denver, CO.

• TJ McKenna, Science Specialist, Connecticut Science Center, Hartford, CT and University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT

• Tara McGill , Curriculum Development Specialist, Northwestern University School of Education and Social Policy, Evanston, IL

• Michael Novak, Senior Curriculum Developer, Northwestern University School of Education and Social Policy, Evanston, IL

• Allysa Orwig, High School Science Teacher, Denver Public Schools, Denver, CO

• William Penuel, Professor of Learning Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO

• David Quigley, Graduate Researcher, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO

• Brian Reiser, Professor of Learning Sciences, Northwestern University School of Education and Social Policy, Evanston, IL

• Kristin Rademaker, Life Science & Special Education Teacher, Harlem High School, Machesney Park, IL

• Will Reed, High School Science Teacher, Chicago Public Schools, Chicago, IL

• Tricia Shelton, High School Biology Teacher, Randall Cooper High School, Union, KY

• Stephanie Spiris, High School Biology Teacher, Denver Public Schools, Denver, CO.

• Tammy R Sumner, Professor of Cognitive and Computer Science, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO

• Joseph Sunshine, High School Biology teacher, Chicago Public Schools, Chicago, IL

• Katie Van Horne, Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO

• Nicole Vick, High School Science Teacher, Galesburg High School North, Galesburg, IL

• Dan Voss, High School Chemistry Physics Teacher, Boone High School, Boone, IA

• Douglas Watkins, High School Science Curriculum Specialist, Denver Public Schools, Denver, CO.

ReLATED RESOURCES

This unit is part of the The inquiry hub (ihub) biology curriculum, a full-year high school biology course anchored in phenomena and aligned to NGSS.