Tag: adaptation
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How do Mammals Maintain Their Temperature (CER)
Students examine graphs and images to develop an understanding of how mammals maintain their body temperatures compared to ectothermic animals.
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Evolution – VIDA chart
This chart is used as a graphic organizer to help students understand the process of evolution by natural selection. I use this chart multiple times throughout the unit, basically for each model organism we study. VIDA means: Variation, Inheritance, Differential Survival and Reproduction, Adaptation. These principles apply not matter what organism you are studying. For…
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How Do Bunny Populations Change Over Time?
A set of images show how rabbits change over time as a result of selective pressure from wolf predation. Students match each graphic with one of the four steps of evolution on the VIDA chart: variation, inheritance, differential survival, and adaptation.
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Case Study: How Do Tibetans Survive High Altitudes
Based on the Berkeley website: Understanding Evolution, this version focuses on the how the body maintains homeostasis at high altitudes. This involves increased production of red blood cells to improve oxygen supplies to tissues. Tibetan populations have adapted to high altitudes by producing fewer red blood cells which improves fetal mortality rates. Case looks…
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Data Analysis: Funky Juncos
View a short video about how a group of birds split from the main population and evolved in relative isolation near a college campus. The film is is 88 minutes long and all of its parts can be viewed at the Juncoproject.com, though for this activity, only one 16 minute chapter is viewed. The…
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Investigation: Gene Switches in Stickleback Fish
This activity was modified from HHMI’s “Modeling the Regulatory Switches of the Pitx1 Gene in Stickleback Fish” The activity is presented as a type of investigation or case study where students examine regulatory switches and was a short film that describes the role of the Pitx1 gene in the development of spines. Students can work…
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Compare a Human and Chimpanzee Skeleton
This handout can be used in discussions on the evolution of bipedalism or in any unit on the skeletal system. Students label the bones of the skeleton and make comparisons between the forelimbs, hind limbs, and pelvis. I created this handout to compliment an evolutionary lesson and video from HHMI on the “Origin of Humans”…