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Lesson summary for...
Relevance of evolution: Agriculture
Author/Source: UC Museum of Paleontology |
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| Overview: | Explore just a few of the many cases in which evolutionary theory helps us secure and improve the world's crops. Genetic diversity, disease resistance and pest control are highlighted. |
| Concepts: | This lesson covers the following concepts:- Present-day species evolved from earlier species; the relatedness of organisms is the result of common ancestry.
- Evolution results from selection acting upon genetic variation within a population.
- Inherited characteristics affect the likelihood of an organism's survival and reproduction.
- Depending on environmental conditions, inherited characteristics may be advantageous, neutral, or detrimental.
- The amount of genetic variation within a population may affect the likelihood of survival of the population; the less the available diversity, the less likely the population will be able to survive environmental change.
- Natural selection acts on individuals and populations in a nonrandom way.
- Evolution acts on what exists.
- 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.
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| Grade Level: | 9-12 |
| Time: | 20-30 minutes |
| Teacher Background: | Explore these links for additional information on the topics covered in this lesson: |
| 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 and would be well-supported by materials focusing on each of these concepts in particular. This particular article will also support the teaching of Mendelian genetics. |
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