Lesson Summary: Relevance of evolution: Medicine

Lesson summary for... Relevance of evolution: Medicine Author/Source: UC Museum of Paleontology

Overview:	Explore just a few of the many cases in which evolutionary theory helps us understand and treat disease. Bacterial infections, HIV, and Huntington's disease are highlighted.
Concepts:	This lesson covers the following concepts: Evolution results from selection acting upon genetic variation within a population. Mutations are random, but selection is not; selection is dependent on many factors. Traits that are advantageous often persist in a population. The process by which advantageous traits are maintained and disadvantageous traits are weeded out of a population is known as natural selection. Inherited characteristics affect the likelihood of an organism's survival and reproduction. Depending on environmental conditions, inherited characteristics may be advantageous, neutral, or detrimental. Natural selection acts on individuals and populations in a nonrandom way. Evolution acts on what exists. Natural selection acts on phenotype as an expression of genotype. Populations evolve. The proportion of individuals with advantageous characteristics may increase due to their increased likelihood of surviving and reproducing. As with other scientific disciplines, evolutionary biology has applications that factor into everyday life.
Grade Level:	9-12
Time:	30-40 minutes
Teacher Background:	Explore these links for additional information on the topics covered in this lesson: Natural Selection Relevance
Teaching Tips:	This article is one of a set of three (agriculture, conservation, and medicine) that can be used to teach about the relevance of evolution. This article exemplifies many different evolutionary concepts (including several examples of natural selection in action) and would be well-supported by materials focusing on each of these concepts in particular. It touches on some fairly advanced topics towards the end.