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Lesson summary for...
Biological warfare and the coevolutionary arms race
Author/Source: UC Museum of Paleontology |
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| Overview: | The rough-skinned newt looks harmless enought but is, in fact, packed full of one of the most potent neurotoxins known to man. Find out how an evolutionary arms race has pushed these mild-mannered critters to the extremes of toxicity and how evolutionary biologists have unraveled their fascinating story. |
| Concepts: | This lesson covers the following concepts:- There is a fit between organisms and their environments, though not always a perfect fit.
- Evolution results from selection acting upon genetic variation within a population.
- 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.
- Populations evolve.
- The proportion of individuals with advantageous characteristics may increase due to their increased likelihood of surviving and reproducing.
- Scientists pose, test, and revise multiple hypotheses to explain what they observe.
- We can learn about the natural world using our senses and extensions of our senses.
- Theories are central to scientific thinking.
- Scientists use experimental evidence to study evolutionary processes.
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| Grade Level: | 9-12 |
| Time: | 45 minutes |
| Teacher Background: | Explore these links for additional information on the topics covered in this lesson: |
| Teaching Tips: | You might cap study of this article by showing students a part of PBS's Evolution video that highlights this arms race: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/01/3/l_013_07.html |
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