Students investigate the concepts of genetics and how it is tied to the variations found within different species and how it is tied to adaptations. They review the theory of evolution and factors found to help create variation. The...

Students examine why some freshwater populations of stickleback fish.  In this macroevolution lesson students read a study packet then answer questions. 

Students compare/constrast DNA sequence data for a portion of the rat GULO gene to the corresponding sequence in the inactive GULO gene in humans, chimpanzees, orangutans, and crab-eating macaques by identifying the shared sequences in...

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...

Students explore and explain how mutations in the DNA sequence of a gene may be silent or result in phenotypic change in an organism and in its offspring. They analyze how evolution and biodiversity are the result of genetic changes that...

Complete a variety of activities to examine the pros and cons and ethical issues behind genetic testing. Your high school students will role play and examine various scenarios to determine if genetic testing is justified.

Ninth graders concentrate on arsenic poisoning as an example of the connections among health, geography, and geology as they develop a persuasive presentation about the dangers of arsenic in the drinking water, targeting a specific...

Students see how patterns can reveal events of the past, thereby merging elements of both experimental and historical science.

Students evaluate the degree of chromosome similarity and difference between humans and apes. Students infer about the relationship between a human and ape based on similarities found.

[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Chimpanzees and humans turn out to be very similar - if you look at their DNA. When scientists determined the entire genetic code of both humans and chimpanzees,...

These pages are part of a site called "Evolution," that accompanies a textbook by the same name. Mark Ridley is the author, and in this section he discusses the evidence for evolution.

This multimedia article includes animations, pictures, video, biographical information, and quiz questions that are accessed by clicking on buttons along the bottom of the page. Here you can see how common genes are evidence for common...

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.

These pages are from the Understanding Evolution website for teachers. They focus on homologous structures that organisms with common ancestors share.

[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Discusses how evidence from living species provides clues about evolution.

Constructing phylogenetic trees may be a daunting task for learners, but this lesson plan is a simulation of what molecular biologists must do to determine relationships. This plan is for students who have a good grasp of DNA structure...

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.

Identify the differences in genetic and non-genetic classification methods. Why is genetic evidence powerful for understanding evolutionary relationships among organisms? Find out!

What does it mean to become human? This brilliant and detailed resource examines early man's behavior, including information on stone tools he used, burial, clothing, and shelter. Find information on genetics including human skin color...