Project - Mapping an Evolutionary Trait

A bat flying overhead, with the hand bones visible through the wing.


Learning Intentions

  • To understand how a trait can be conserved or changed when species evolve
  • To gain a fuller understanding of the common evolutionary ancestors of many species


Notes

Now that you know a bit about evolution, and how OneZoom organizes species, you will use OneZoom to explore which species share a particular trait.

  1. Choose a trait that you want to explore. Examples of traits could be:
    1. Structure of the legs (human vs. horse), hand (
      ), eye, etc.
    2. Cares for their young after birth
    3. Can be domesticated/tamed
    4. Mates monogamously
    5. Has fur
    6. Carcinisation
    7. Number of offspring typically born at a time
  2. Using OneZoom (original view, natural view, polytomy view, or fern view), search for a species that you know displays the trait you are looking for. 
    1. Gradually zoom out, and research whether or not closely related species/clade/genus/family/order/class share this trait. Record this information in a data table.
    2. Continue zooming out until you find the most closely related species/clade/genus/family/order/class that does not share the trait. Record this information in a data table.
  3. Use the Internet to search for a species/clade/genus/family/order/class that expresses the trait, but is not yet in your data table. Repeat the previous step, starting at that species. Repeat until complete. If you are finding way too many species, please talk with the teacher about limiting the scope of your project.
  4. Analyze your data using the Theory of Evolution and natural selection. You may need to do some background research. Some questions you might want to consider:
    1. When did this trait first emerge? Why? Where? How?
    2. When does this trait disappear? Why? Where? How?
    3. Does this trait emerge independently among unrelated species? Why or why not?
  5. Make predictions about the future. Knowing what you do about the world, with this trait become more common? Less? Is there a possibility it could change?


Assessment


  • Required Parts
    • Data table completed
    • Analysis
    • Prediction
  • Data Table
    • Includes species with the trait and without it
    • No obvious examples are missing
  • Analysis and Prediction
    • Technically accurate
    • Shows understanding of Theory of Evolution and natural selection

Required Parts
 Data Table
 Analysis and Prediction
1. Beginning Most
2. Developing ✓ Mostly Complete
 Shallow
3. Applying ✓ ✓
 ✓
4. Extending ✓ ✓
 Clever