Mechanism of Evolution

When we study the history of life on Earth ,we are also studying the fossil record and ultimately,the theory of evolution. Change is a universal phenomenon.Remember the line in the famous poem Desiderata: "The universe is unfolding as it should.....". Change is necessary for survival. We must be able to understand and accept changes if we are to survive the future. Development is endent from birth to death, and the only important question is: are we leading towards order and continuity or towards chaos and destruction?

watch a video on youtube " The beak of the Finch" made by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcM23M-CCog)

Today you will be required to develop and practice your critical thinking on theories of possible reasons that animal,humans and other species changes. You will also apply your skills in using technology.You will be assigned a specific aspect of evolution to research. They are: natural selection,mutation,adaptation,genetic drift/flow. You will also choose between two scenarios to work with.

For the first scenario,you are going to look for as many species as you think that it undergoes changes or evolution. You will describe it base on its physical appearance and classification in the Linnaeus classification system. Provide the common ancestors and explain methods of evolution that occur on this species. If you will choose this option, list what classification of animal, is it mammal,bird,fish,insect,reptile or amphibian. Show you answer in a tabulated form. Put your explanation just below your table.

For the second scenario, you research on how humans evolved. Explain what could have caused new traits. Describe the physical features of human according to the belief of evolution, what is its difference from modern human. Explain why traits are advantageous or disadvantageous. You will also create a human evolutionary timeline.

I will group you according to your interest.

You will be split from 2 groups. You will work individually to gather research but you will collaborate discussion with your group mates, you will submit completed research for the assessment  by group through my email delaila123@gmail.com. 

Here are some resources to get started on your research:

1. Natural Selection

      http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/03/5/1_035_01.html

     http://www.youtube.com/watchv=kjgNTOrBy-8

2. Adaptation

     http://www.mnm.com/earth-matters/wilderness-resources/stories/projectin…

    http://web4health.info/en/aux/homo-sapiens-future.html

3. Mutation

    http://anthro.palomal.edu/synthetic/synth_3.html

    http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/scientist-map-dna-of-1457334.html

4. Genetic flow/drift

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2BJN-Jtzk

Other resource: http://edhelper.com/ReadingComprehension-54-29.html (how species arise)

For the first scenario here is a website that can help you with your work:

    https://courses.lumenlearning.com/biology1/chapter/the-evolutionay-hist…

    https:sci.waikato.ac.nz>evolution>animal evolution.shtml

For the second  scenario,you can open the website

  https://www.britanica.com>science>human-evolution

NOTE:You can use another website for more information for the first and second scenario

Your group in your research is also your group in the activity, you will base your activity on the information that you have research.

There will be two grading rubrics for this activity. You will receive one grade for your research gathering skills and abilities with a total of 50 points, and one for your activities regarding species with a total also of 50 points, so all in all you will receive 100 points. Score of group will also be the score of individual.

By participating in this webquest,you will have become scientist like Charles Darwin. You have master evolution through natural selection,mutation,adaptation and genetic drift or flow. You have identify species that undergoes evolution as Darwin says.

Whether you belief on evolution or not,the fact is everything changes as time passed by.

youtube.com

http://www.zunal.com.introduction.php?

Penecilla,G.,L.D. Valmonte.,M.M. Fandialian.,M.I. Formacion.2003.Basic Concepts of Biology.Philippines.

Additional websites are linked in Process in WebQuest.

Delaila I. Totanes

Teacher 2 - Biological Science

This WebQuest is designed for grade 12 class