Biology Junction
Evolution – Diversity of Life
Scientists noticed animals with backbones share similar bone structure despite having different forms, such as fins, arms, and wings. Young scientists gain an appreciation for evolution by understanding the history of the theory. They...
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Vertebrate Circulatorium
When you get to the heart of the matter, you learn a lot about an organism by studying its circulatory system! A perfect resource for a zoology or anatomy class, the simulation gives users a peek inside a variety of vertebrates to...
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Zebrafish and Skin Color
You may not know if that zebrafish in your fish tank is a model citizen—but it is definitely a model organism! What can we learn about ourselves from a tiny zebrafish? Discover more about the polygenic trait of skin color through a...
Indiana University
Ensi: Comparison of Human: Chimpanzee Chromosomes Lesson
This is a great lesson plan that combines Karoytypes and evolution. Students will recognize that the chromosomes of chimpanzees and humans are remarkably similar, then correlate that to their evolutionary relationship.
PBS
Tracing Ancestry With Mt Dna
The most common mtDNA ancestor is an African woman named African "Eve" or Mitochondrial Eve. Good explanation of mtDNA versus nuclear DNA through visual interactive family tree.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Why Comparative Embryology Matters in the Real World
For this lesson, middle schoolers compare similarities in the embryos of different organisms to look for features that would indicate common ancestry. They will then investigate how understanding this aspect of evolution has real-world...
Other
Plant and Animal Evolution: Homology
In this informative site, homologous is defined and the wings of birds and bats are compared to clarify the concept.
National Health Museum
Nhm: Amino Acid Sequences Show Evolution
This lesson plan focuses on differences in the amino acid sequence of hemoglobin and myoglobin proteins. They use the number of differences to create a phylogenetic tree.
National Health Museum
Access Excellence: Molecular Biology/primate Phylogeny
This lesson plan involves comparison of amino acids to create a phylogenetic tree of primates. Learners will also use other species information to draw conclusions about evolutionary relationships.
University of California
Understanding Evolution: The Big Issues
Visit some of the biggest questions that scientists try to answer about evolution.
Mocomi & Anibrain Digital Technologies
Mocomi: The Theory of Evolution
This slideshow provides a brief overview of Charles Darwin and his theory of evolution, natural selection and survival of the fittest.
University of California
University of California Museum of Paleontology: Homologies
These pages are from the Understanding Evolution website for teachers. They focus on homologous structures that organisms with common ancestors share.
Other
Evolution: Evidence From Living Organisms
By examining fossils, scientists have collected evidence that supports the theory that species changed over time. As you read this article, study this evidence and critically evaluate whether it indicates that species may have arisen by...
Other
The Evidence for Evolution: Homologous Similarities
This site is a section part of a website that accompanies "Evolution," a textbook by Mark Ridley. Here he covers homologous structures, using them as evidence for evolution.
National Health Museum
Nhm: Restriction Maps to Cladograms Lesson
This lesson plan requires students to analyze DNA restriction maps to determine the differences in the sequence for several primates and humans. They then use the information to create a cladogram.
BiologyWise
Biology Wise: Synapomorphy
Explains what synapomorphy is by using examples to demonstrate the concept, which plays an important role in the system of cladistics.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Plix Series: Comparative Anatomy: Comparative Embryology
[Free Registration/Login Required] Match the animals with their embryos and answer questions about their evolutionary ancestry.
Other
Evidence for Evolution: Genetic Code
These pages are part of a site called Evolution that accompany a textbook by the same name. Mark Ridley is the author. In this section: the universal genetic code provides evidence that life has a common ancestor.
PBS
Pbs: Comparative Embryology: The Vertebrate Body
Provides a student handout in PDF format that looks at the developmental stages of five vertebrate organisms from fertilization to adult form. Students can look at the pictures to see the similarities and differences at the embryo stage...