1. Standard  S7L5. Students will examine the evolution of living organisms through inherited characteristics that promote survival of the organism and the survival of successive generations. a. Explain that physical characteristics of organisms have changed over successive generations (i.e Darwin’s finches and peppered moths of Manchester) b. Describe ways in which species on earth have evolved due to natural selection c. Trace evidence that the fossil record found in sedimentary rock provides evidence for the long history of changing life forms

2.  Differences Among Organisms (pg. 166)  Evidence of Changes Over (pgs. 168 )  Evidence of Ancestry (pg. 169)  Comparing Organisms (pg. 172)  Charles Darwin (pg. 174)  Darwin Thinking (pg. 176)  Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection (pg. 178)  Changes in Population (pg. 180)  Forming a New Species (pg. 182)

3.  You will need to summarize your section with important facts and an illustration/visual of some sort to present to the class ex: a poster or PP presentation  You will be responsible for a presentation of your section to the rest of the class so that they can write down the notes  Your presentation should include:  Title of the section  At least 5 important facts  How it relates to the standard/element  Possible test questions(s)

4. Differences Among Organisms  An adaptation is a characteristic that helps an organism survive long enough to reproduce in its environment  It may be physical or behavior  A species is a group of organisms with similar characteristics that are able to mate to produce fertile offspring  There are millions of different kinds of species that have evolved and changed over time. Their inherited characteristics have changed creating new species  This process is called evolution. Scientists are still developing theories as to HOW this occurs

5. Evidence of Changes over Time  The proof is buried within the layers of Earth’s crust  Fossils form when organisms die and are covered by sediments that harden into rock  Can also form from a footprint, imprint, or soft-bodied animal  Fossils provide a record of some of the organisms that have lived on Earth because it requires specific conditions for fossils to form  Looking at the order of fossils within the layers, scientists can determine when organisms lived in relation to other organisms  Also by looking physical characteristics of the fossils scientist can determine how ancient organisms have developed into modern-day species  The timeline scientist have created to show the development of life is called fossil record

6. Evidence of Ancestry  Fossil record provides evidence about the order in which species have existed. They also use the fossil record to indicate relationship between extinct and living organisms  Scientists believe that all organisms descended from a common ancestor  Scientist have sketched out a “tree of life” that includes all known organisms

7. Comparing Organisms  There is evidence to prove that organisms have descended from a common ancestor  Scientists study animal skeletons and DNA to determine evolutionary relationship and development  Looking at the outside appearance can be misleading because underneath the surface they have similarities – pg. 172  Scientists will observe organisms at the molecular level (DNA), the greater number of similarities, the more closely related the organisms are  Scientists use molecular data, comparison of traits, and fossils to support theory

8. Who was Charles Darwin  In the 1800s geologist knew the Earth’s surface had gradually changed over millions of years but it wasn’t until Darwin that someone was able to explain as to how  In 1831 Charles Darwin set sail on the HMS Beagle as the ships’ naturalist  The Beagle set sail and landed on the Galapagos Islands.  During Darwin’s trips on the Beagle he made thousands of observations that helped him to form his theory of how evolution happens

9. Darwin’s Thinking  Darwin tried to explain why the animals on the Galapagos seemed similar and yet so different  After reading Malthus’s work, Darwin concluded that any species can produce many offspring  However a population will be limited by starvation, disease, competition, and predation  Only a limited number of individuals will survive, and there must be something special about the survivors ~ they must have inherited traits that help them to survive in their environment  Through Charles Lyell’s work, Darwin recognized that the Earth was older than most scientist had believed and that it species had evolved over time

10. Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection  Natural Selection is the process by which organisms that are better adapted to their environment survive and reproduce more successfully than less well adapted organisms do ~ theory used to explain evolution  FOUR PARTS:  Overproduction: organisms will produce more offspring that what will survive  Inherited Variation: every organism has its own combination of traits  Struggle to Survive: competition = starvation, predators, disease  Successful Reproduction: the organisms that are best adapted will live long enough to survive, each generation of the population becomes more and more adapted to its environment

11. Changes in Population  Natural selection explains how a population changes in response to environment, well adapted individuals will likely survive and reproduce  Changes in populations are sometimes observed when a new force affects survival ex. Hunting  Insecticide Resistance ~ the insects resistance to the chemical survive and reproduce passing that ability on to the next generation  Competition for mates will select adaptations for organisms

12. Forming a New Species  Speciation ~ the formation of a new species as a result of evolution  How do new species form?  Speciation begins when part of a population becomes separated through formation of canyons, mountains, or lake or other forms of water  Once separated populations will experience natural selection in their new environment forming new adaptations to survive their new homes and through time the groups will begin to differ from the original population  The final stage in forming a new species is “division”. The new group of organisms will no longer be able to reproduce with the older population because they are too different they have become a new species