Evidence of Evolution Jigsaw

Along with your focus group explore the links below.  Gather information on your topic and fill in your graphic organizer. Be sure to answer the following questions:

1. What do scientists in your field study?
2. How can information in this field be used to show that evolution is real? Give three specific, easy-to-explain examples.  

Group 1-Anatomists: Anatomists study the structure of organisms, such as what their limbs look like and where they are located. 

Group 2 - Molecular Biologists: Molecular biologists study genetics and nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA. From this they can compare the nucleic acids in different organisms.

Group 3 - Paleontologists: Paleontologists study fossils (the remains of once living organisms) and how they are related to each other and current organisms. 

Links:

Group 1- Anatomists:

Whale Anatomy

Homologies there is a lot on this page - look around!

Evidence from Living Organisms - read about homologous structures and vestigial organs

Group 2- Molecular Biologists:

Axing the Family Tree

Evidence of Evolution - scroll down to "chemical and anatomical similarities"

Salvaged DNA adds to Neanderthal's Mystique

Group 3- Paleontologists: 

Fossil Tour

Fossil Evidence there is a lot here- look around!

Whale Anatomy

Many of these links were taken from PBS at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/educators/lessons/lesson3/act2.html