Fossils have many interesting similarities & differences to modern-day species.
[CER] Every species on Earth is related to a common ancestor. Agree or disagree?
Make a claim. Provide your evidence and justify your reasoning. |
/ Ii / Investigate
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/ iII / Level Up!
During this lesson you will learn more about what evidence shows that different species are related.
✎Notes:
- Fossils are mineral replacements, preserved remains, or traces of organisms that lived in the past.
- Thousands of layers of sedimentary rock not only provide evidence of the history of Earth itself but also of changes in organisms whose fossil remains have been found in those layers.
- The collection of fossils and their placement in chronological order (e.g., through the location of the sedimentary layers in which they are found or through radioactive dating) is known as the fossil record. It documents the existence, diversity, extinction, and change of many life forms throughout the history of life on Earth.
- Because of the conditions necessary for their preservation, not all types of organisms that existed in the past have left fossils that can be retrieved.
- Anatomical similarities and differences between various organisms living today and between them and organisms in the fossil record enable the reconstruction of evolutionary history and the inference of lines of evolutionary descent.
- Comparison of the embryological development of different species also reveals similarities that show relationships not evident in the fully formed anatomy.
/ IV / choose your path
FREE PLAY [+1 point]
Reflect on this topic any way you wish NOVICE [+2 points]
A phylogenetic tree can be built using physical information like body shape, bone structure, or behavior. Or it can be built from molecular information, like genetic sequences. In general, the more information you're able to compare, the more accurate the tree will be. According to this evidence some scientists have attempted to reconstruct the evolutionary history of equine species including zebras and horses. According to their results what are 2 or more conclusions you can draw from their conclusions? |
ACCOMPLISHED [+3 points]
Organisms that share a pattern of anatomical features may be more likely to be closely related than organisms that do not share a pattern of anatomical features. According to the anatomical evidence between the bat wing, bird wing, and insect wing, which species are more closely related? |
ADVANCED [+4 points]
Organisms that share a pattern of anatomical features may be more likely to be closely related than organisms that do not share a pattern of anatomical features. According to the anatomical evidence below which species are more closely related? Which species are more distantly related? Explain why using specific anatomical evidence. |
EXPERT [+5 points]
Some scientists claim that whales used to live on land. Supposedly, around 400 million years ago, a four-limbed creatures took its first steps onto dry land. Fast-forward about 350 million years, and a descendant of these early land animals did an about-face: It waded back into the water. With time, the back-to-the sea creatures would give rise to animals vastly different from their land dwelling ancestors: evidence suggests they became the magnificent whales, dolphins and porpoises that glide through the oceans today! What are 2 or more sources of evidence some scientists use to claim that whales used to live on land and evolved back into the ocean? Do you agree with this evidence? Explain why or why not. What additional evidence is needed to support or refute the claim ancestors of whales used to live on land millions of years ago? |
MASTER [+6 points]
Choose your favorite species of organism to research. Draw and construct an explanation of its theorized evolutionary history and relationship to other species. What similarities does it share with other species and what differences does it have to modern or fossilized species. Do you agree or disagree with the evidence you found. Explain why or why not. |
/ V / Knowledge Check
/ VI / redemption pointsRedemption Points
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/ VI / enrichment bonusEnrichment Bonus
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✓ MASTERY CHECK
National Research Council 2012. A Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/13165
This site contains original content that may not be authorized for use by the creator and is legally used under the fair use principles section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1986 (17 U.S. Code § 107)
The official NGSS website. https://www.nextgenscience.org
LS4.A, MS-LS4-2
Apply scientific ideas to construct an explanation for the anatomical similarities and differences among modern organisms and between modern and fossil organisms to infer evolutionary relationships. (Patterns) [MS-LS4-2]
This site contains original content that may not be authorized for use by the creator and is legally used under the fair use principles section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1986 (17 U.S. Code § 107)
The official NGSS website. https://www.nextgenscience.org
LS4.A, MS-LS4-2
Apply scientific ideas to construct an explanation for the anatomical similarities and differences among modern organisms and between modern and fossil organisms to infer evolutionary relationships. (Patterns) [MS-LS4-2]