Lesson Summary: Evo in the news: Seeing the tree for the twigs

Lesson summary for... Evo in the news: Seeing the tree for the twigs Author/Source: UC Museum of Paleontology

Overview:	Recent research has revealed that, in at least some ways, chimpanzees have evolved more than humans have. This news brief from May 2007 delves into this finding further and, in the process, debunks common misperceptions of human evolution.
Concepts:	This lesson covers the following concepts: Present-day species evolved from earlier species; the relatedness of organisms is the result of common ancestry. All organisms, including humans, retain evidence of their evolutionary history. Mutations are random, but selection is not; selection is dependent on many factors. The story of the evolution of living things is always being refined as we gather more evidence.
Grade Level:	9-12
Time:	15 minutes
Teacher Background:	Explore these links for additional information on the topics covered in this lesson: Classification/Phylogenetics Natural Selection
Teaching Tips:	This article includes a set of discussion and extension questions for use in class, as well as a sidebar that would be appropriate for AP students. It also includes hints about related lessons that might be used in conjunction with this one. This example could be easily integrated into instruction on molecular genetics, since it deals with the genetic code.