Objective

The purpose of this lesson is to inform the learner about evidences that scientists view and conclude that organisms have common ancestry and have evolved over many millions of years of Earth's history to form the diversity of life we now have.

A. The following are Pennsylvania State 10th Grade Biology Standards this lesson addresses:Explain the mechanisms of the theory of evolution.  

1. Analyze data from fossil records, similarities in anatomy and physiology, embryological studies and DNA studies that are relevant to the theory of evolution.

3. Compare modern day descendants of extinct species and propose possible scientific accounts for their present appearance.

6. Describe changes that illustrate major events in the earth’s development based on a time line.