1. Darwin Presents his case
Big Q: Under what conditions does natural selection occur?
Big Q: What does Darwin’s mechanism for evolution suggest about living and extinct species?
Big Q: What do homologous structures and similarities in embryonic development suggest about the process of evolutionary change”

2. Engage - Comparing bones
Investigate the similarities and differences between the forelimb of a cat and a lizard
***Answer all questions on your Inquiry Warm-Up Worksheet

3. Explain - Darwin’s Findings
Natural Selection - organisms with variations most suited to their local environment survive and procreate
Variation
Adaptation
Survival of the Fittest
Fitness
differences in heritable traits
characteristics that increase survivability
how well an organism can survive and reproduce
traits that describe how well a species can survive

4. Explain - Common Descent
Common Ancestor - all species, living and extinct, descended from a common ancestor
Phylogenetic Tree - shows ancestral relationship

5. Elaborate - Birds of a feather
Investigate local animals and suggest common ancestors
***Answer questions on your Inquiry Warm-Up Worksheet

6. Explain - Biogeography
Biogeography - study of where organisms live now and where their ancestors lived in the past
Darwin studied fossil records to support this study
Identify possible advantages of specific changes

7. Explain - Comparative Analogy
Homologous Structures
Analogous Structures
Vestigial Structures
similar structure, different function
different structure, similar function
structures that no longer function

8. Explain - Comparative anatomy
Embryology - similar patterns in embryological development suggest common descent
Molecular Biology - genetic code and homologous molecules provide evidence of common descent

9. Elaborate - Molecular homology in Hoxc8
Analyze the data from the Hoxc8 gene in different species
**Answer questions on your worksheet

10. Evaluate - Darwin’s Case
Please complete the exit ticket before leaving