Evolutionary Evidence
Comprehending worldwide relationships and long-term change involved in
natural selection is not easy -- individuals are rarely able to witness such
things personally. Various fields of scientific
...
Evolutionary Evidence
Comprehending worldwide relationships and long-term change involved in
natural selection is not easy -- individuals are rarely able to witness such
things personally. Various fields of scientific study contribute evidence useful
for reconstructing the history of organisms and the relationships among
them.
Part 1. POLLEN Each plant’s pollen has a unique structure. Pollen can survive in soil without
decomposing and therefore can be a valuable indicator of the vegetation in an area at some
early time. Cores of sediment from the bottom of lakes is often used to look at pollen. The cores
are dated so that we know when the pollen was deposited. By identifying the types of pollen we
can infer the type of climate that was present at different times in the past.
Procedure:
1. Pictures of pollen samples of different species are provided on the
lab PowerPoint.
2. Fill in the table on the data and observation sheet, noting the ages of
the samples and type of pollen.
3. Answer the questions on the data and observation page.
Part 2. Plate Tectonics A well-accepted concept of geology is that the
present land masses resulted from a breaking up of a single early continent
and the drifting apart of the fragments.
Procedure:
1. Use the links on the PowerPoint to watch animations of the change in
position of the earth’s plates.
2. Answer the questions on the data and observation page.
Part 3. EMBRYO DEVELOPMENT Organisms develop from a single
fertilized ovum by a process of repeated cell division. The early structure of
an embryo may not resemble its later stages; during this period of rapid
growth, a great deal of modification occurs.
Procedure:
1. Use the link on the PowerPoint to print out the sheet of embryo
pictures
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