Lesson Summary: Evo in the news: A fish of a different color

Lesson summary for... Evo in the news: A fish of a different color Author/Source: UC Museum of Paleontology

Overview:	This news brief, from February 2006, describes how a mutated zebrafish gene may help us understand human evolution and the genes underlying human skin color. Humans and zebrafish both inherited the same pigmentation gene from their common ancestor.
Concepts:	This lesson covers the following concepts: Present-day species evolved from earlier species; the relatedness of organisms is the result of common ancestry. There is a fit between organisms and their environments, though not always a perfect fit. All organisms, including humans, retain evidence of their evolutionary history. All life forms use the same basic DNA building blocks. Traits that are advantageous often persist in a population. Inherited characteristics affect the likelihood of an organism's survival and reproduction.
Grade Level:	9-12
Time:	15 minutes
Teacher Background:	Explore these links for additional information on the topics covered in this lesson: Classification/Phylogenetics
Teaching Tips:	This article includes a set of discussion and extension questions for use in class. It also includes hints about related lessons that might be used in conjunction with this one.