What are fossils and what are some examples of fossils?

Fossils are evidence of past life. They can be preserved in different forms like rock, amber, ice, and petrified wood.

What does it mean for something to be extinct?

Animals become extinct when there are no more left of their species on Earth. After animals are extinct, fossils provide evidence they once existed.

Why do plants or animals become extinct?

Organisms become extinct for different reasons. Most commonly, they become extinct because they no longer have the ability to acquire the necessary resources (food, water, mates) to survive long enough to reproduce and have more young.

What are adaptations?

Adaptations are changes in populations of organisms over time. Those changes are a result of some organisms within the population having characteristics that increase the likelihood they will survive to reproductive age. Because of that, those characteristics become more common over time, thus increasing in number in the population.

What causes organisms to have to adapt?

Changes in the environment will affect many things about how an organism lives, specifically its access to resources. Environmental changes resulting from natural disasters or other occurrences cause certain characteristics to be most favorable for survival.

What happens to organisms if they don’t adapt to changes in the environment?

Populations that do not change over time in response to environmental changes will eventually become extinct. After extinction occurs, the only evidence existing of those previous life forms are fossils. Fossils are examined today in order to determine if prehistoric creatures are similar to more modern ones.

How are male and female human skeletons the same and different?

All bones in males and females are arranged in the same ways, but on average males have slightly wider shoulders and females have slightly wider pelvises.

How are a dog, a dolphin, and a bat similar to a human?

Dogs, dolphins, bats, and humans all have a similar pattern in their upper arm bone structure—one big bone connected to two bones, connected to many bones, connected to finger-like bones.

What do a bald eagle, a Komodo dragon, and a lizard have in common?

Their bones have the same basic pattern, and their skulls connect directly to the spine.

How is the development of a human, pig, frog, and chicken the same?

They all start out as a single cell and develop the same pattern of structures such as tails and pharyngeal slits. Some of those structures remain as the embryo gets older, but others go away.

What are examples of animals that have evolved?

Horses, whales, snakes, birds and more have evolved!

What are some things a developmental biologist does?

They study how living things grow from a single cell to highly complex organisms.

What are fossils and what are some examples of fossils?

Fossils are evidence of past life. They can be preserved in different forms like rock, amber, ice, and petrified wood.

What does it mean for something to be extinct?

Animals become extinct when there are no more left of their species on Earth. After animals are extinct, fossils provide evidence they once existed.

Why do plants or animals become extinct?

Organisms become extinct for different reasons. Most commonly, they become extinct because they no longer have the ability to acquire the necessary resources (food, water, mates) to survive long enough to reproduce and have more young.

What are adaptations?

Adaptations are changes in populations of organisms over time. Those changes are a result of some organisms within the population having characteristics that increase the likelihood they will survive to reproductive age. Because of that, those characteristics become more common over time, thus increasing in number in the population.

What causes organisms to have to adapt?

Changes in the environment will affect many things about how an organism lives, specifically its access to resources. Environmental changes resulting from natural disasters or other occurrences cause certain characteristics to be most favorable for survival.

What happens to organisms if they don’t adapt to changes in the environment?

Populations that do not change over time in response to environmental changes will eventually become extinct. After extinction occurs, the only evidence existing of those previous life forms are fossils. Fossils are examined today in order to determine if prehistoric creatures are similar to more modern ones.

How are male and female human skeletons the same and different?

All bones in males and females are arranged in the same ways, but on average males have slightly wider shoulders and females have slightly wider pelvises.

How are a dog, a dolphin, and a bat similar to a human?

Dogs, dolphins, bats, and humans all have a similar pattern in their upper arm bone structure—one big bone connected to two bones, connected to many bones, connected to finger-like bones.

What do a bald eagle, a Komodo dragon, and a lizard have in common?

Their bones have the same basic pattern, and their skulls connect directly to the spine.

How is the development of a human, pig, frog, and chicken the same?

They all start out as a single cell and develop the same pattern of structures such as tails and pharyngeal slits. Some of those structures remain as the embryo gets older, but others go away.

What are examples of animals that have evolved?

Horses, whales, snakes, birds and more have evolved!

What are some things a developmental biologist does?

They study how living things grow from a single cell to highly complex organisms.

Comparative Anatomy

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WHAT IS COMPARATIVE ANATOMY?

Anatomy is the branch of science the studies the structures of living things, like their skeletons, organs and muscles. When scientists compare the anatomy of living things to each other we call that, comparative anatomy. It can help us understand how living things are related.

To better understand comparative anatomy…

WHAT IS COMPARATIVE ANATOMY?. Anatomy is the branch of science the studies the structures of living things, like their skeletons, organs and muscles. When scientists compare the anatomy of living things to each other we call that, comparative anatomy. It can help us understand how living things are related. To better understand comparative anatomy…

LET’S BREAK IT DOWN!

Human Anatomy

Human anatomy, especially the skeletal system, has many similarities to other organisms. This is evidence for evolution because organisms that share similar structures have common ancestors. The more structures that are similar, the more closely related organisms are in their evolutionary past. For example, a human, a dog, a fruit bat, and a dolphin all have the same pattern of bone structure in the upper extremity—one bone connected to two bones, connected to many bones, connected to finger-like bones.

Human Anatomy Human anatomy, especially the skeletal system, has many similarities to other organisms. This is evidence for evolution because organisms that share similar structures have common ancestors. The more structures that are similar, the more closely related organisms are in their evolutionary past. For example, a human, a dog, a fruit bat, and a dolphin all have the same pattern of bone structure in the upper extremity—one bone connected to two bones, connected to many bones, connected to finger-like bones.

Development of Embryos

All organisms start from a single cell. Then as those cells divide, a mass of cells form a familiar shape known as an embryo. Embryos are unborn or unhatched babies. Humans develop from embryos like other organisms, and those embryos look similar early in development. In fact, human embryos grow a temporary tail that later disappears. Embryos have similar structures that grow and develop into other structures later in life. For example, pharyngeal slits are present in both fish and human embryos, but they become the gills of fish and the throat and jaw region of a human. Organisms showing similarities in embryonic development are evidence of evolution because the more similar organisms are, the more closely related they are in the past

Development of Embryos All organisms start from a single cell. Then as those cells divide, a mass of cells form a familiar shape known as an embryo. Embryos are unborn or unhatched babies. Humans develop from embryos like other organisms, and those embryos look similar early in development. In fact, human embryos grow a temporary tail that later disappears. Embryos have similar structures that grow and develop into other structures later in life. For example, pharyngeal slits are present in both fish and human embryos, but they become the gills of fish and the throat and jaw region of a human. Organisms showing similarities in embryonic development are evidence of evolution because the more similar organisms are, the more closely related they are in the past

The Fossil Record

Fossils provide some of the best evidence for evolution and how organisms have changed over long periods of time. Fossils are preserved remains of organisms that once lived but don’t anymore. The entire collection of fossils found is referred to as the fossil record. The fossil record provides evidence for what organisms once existed, how those organisms lived, and how those populations of organisms changed over time. Fossils can be fully preserved in ice and amber or exist as casts, imprints, or molds.

The Fossil Record Fossils provide some of the best evidence for evolution and how organisms have changed over long periods of time. Fossils are preserved remains of organisms that once lived but don’t anymore. The entire collection of fossils found is referred to as the fossil record. The fossil record provides evidence for what organisms once existed, how those organisms lived, and how those populations of organisms changed over time. Fossils can be fully preserved in ice and amber or exist as casts, imprints, or molds.

Evolution

Evolution is the changes in organisms over long periods of time. Organisms possess different types of characteristics that help them live in their environment. For example, whale skulls show how the position of the blow hole has changed over long periods of time. As organisms show small variations in characteristics, certain variations will help them be more successful as their environment changes. So as Earth’s atmosphere and environment have changed, so have living organisms in response. Traits that help organisms to be successful allow those organisms to survive. Organisms that don’t possess those characteristics die. Because the ones with favorable traits survive to reproductive age, they pass those traits on to their offspring, and the traits become more common in populations over long periods of time.

Evolution Evolution is the changes in organisms over long periods of time. Organisms possess different types of characteristics that help them live in their environment. For example, whale skulls show how the position of the blow hole has changed over long periods of time. As organisms show small variations in characteristics, certain variations will help them be more successful as their environment changes. So as Earth’s atmosphere and environment have changed, so have living organisms in response. Traits that help organisms to be successful allow those organisms to survive. Organisms that don’t possess those characteristics die. Because the ones with favorable traits survive to reproductive age, they pass those traits on to their offspring, and the traits become more common in populations over long periods of time.

Developmental Biology

Developmental biologists examine and study how organisms develop over time. Specifically, some developmental biologists study human and birth defects. Each year, about 6% of babies born worldwide have some sort of birth defect. That is approximately 8 million children per year. Scientists study embryos of other organisms because of their similar structures to better understand human development without having to destroy human embryos.

Developmental Biology Developmental biologists examine and study how organisms develop over time. Specifically, some developmental biologists study human and birth defects. Each year, about 6% of babies born worldwide have some sort of birth defect. That is approximately 8 million children per year. Scientists study embryos of other organisms because of their similar structures to better understand human development without having to destroy human embryos.

Comparative Anatomy

Discussion Questions

Vocabulary

Reading Material

LET’S BREAK IT DOWN!

Human Anatomy

Development of Embryos

The Fossil Record

Evolution

Developmental Biology

DIY Activity Guide

Teacher Resources

Lesson Plan

Teacher Guide

Answer Key

Assessment

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