1. Why are adaptations so valuable??? Initiation:

2. Mechanisms of Evolution Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution. -- Theodosius Dobzhansky Key Question How does the process of evolution occur?

3. Content Objectives 1. Explain how the mechanisms of evolution lead to an increase in species fitness.

4. Key Points 1. Organisms compete for resources in the environment they live in. 2. Organisms better suited for their environment will be able to survive and reproduce. 3. Natural selection reveals that the most fit organisms are able to pass on their benificial genes.

5. Major Vocab Artificial Selection Natural Selection Fitness

6. Artificial Selection In Artificial Selection, nature provides the variation, and humans select which variations are most useful. If you are selecting a team, what are some qualities that you would want on your team???

7. Artificial Selection in Action!!!

8. Natural Selection Darwin was convinced that the same principles of Artificial selection could be applied to Nature! All organisms struggle for existence! The ability to survive and reproduce in a specific environment is called fitness. Natural Selection is the survival of the fittest.

9. Natural Selection in Action!!! Peppered Moth Tomorrow’s Lab!!! Bug Games!!! http://www.edparadigm.com/sessions/scienc e/selectionSim.html http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/interactives/ev olution.html

10. Bug Game #1 1. Which bugs did you see first? 2. What color bugs do you think will have a better chance at surviving? 3. How does this experiment show an increase in species fitness?

11. Bug Game #2 1. What changes did you see when the bugs lived in a green environment? How about an orange environment? 2. Did the bird only eat orange bugs when the environment was green? 3. How does this simulation show Natural Selection at work?

12. Common Misconceptions Natural selection gives organisms what they ‘need’. Natural selection has no “intelligence”. It can not tell what a species needs. Natural selection involves organisms ‘trying’ to adapt. Adaptation is entirely outside of the power of the organism.

13. Sexual Selection The balance between Reproduction and Survival!!! We talk more about this on Friday!

14. Write a brief summary of today’s lecture. Termination: