HS-LS4-2 - Performance Expectation

Construct an explanation based on evidence that the process of evolution primarily results from four factors: (1) the potential for a species to increase in number, (2) the heritable genetic variation of individuals in a species due to mutation and sexual reproduction, (3) competition for limited resources, and (4) the proliferation of those organisms that are better able to survive and reproduce in the environment.

High School · Next Generation Science Standards · NGSS Lead States 2013

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Vocabulary
explanationevidenceprocess of evolutionspeciesheritable genetic variationmutationsexual reproductionresourcesenvironmentproliferation
Skills
  • construct (explanations based on evidence) #dok3
  • identify (factors involved in evolution) #dok1
  • analyze (the consequences of genetic variation and limited resources) #dok2
  • explain (how competition and proliferation affect evolution) #dok2
  • synthesize (information about evolutionary processes) #dok4
Learning Targets
  • I can identify the factors that influence the process of evolution. #dok1
  • I can recall the meanings of key terms such as genetic variation, mutation, and proliferation. #dok1
  • I can analyze how heritable genetic variation arises through mutation and sexual reproduction. #dok2
  • I can explain how competition for limited resources contributes to evolution. #dok2
  • I can construct an explanation, based on evidence, for how the process of evolution results from the interaction of several factors. #dok3
  • I can synthesize information from multiple sources to show how the interaction of genetic variation, competition, and environment leads to evolution. #dok4
Big Ideas
  • Evolution is driven by the interaction of genetic variation, environmental factors, and competition for resources.
  • Organisms that are better suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce, leading to changes in populations over time.
Essential Questions
  • What factors contribute to the process of evolution in a species?
  • How do mutations and sexual reproduction create heritable genetic variation?
  • In what ways does competition for limited resources affect which organisms survive and reproduce?
  • Why do some organisms proliferate while others do not, and how does this affect the overall population?
  • How do environmental conditions influence the direction and pace of evolutionary change?