| Method |
Precise Learning Objective |
Linked |
Question / Activity
(Designed for maximum working out) |
Stepping Stones |
Pitstop Check
(Thinking Map) |
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Students should be able to describe simply how the genome and its interaction with the environment influence the development of the phenotype of an organism |
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How does the genome and the environment influence the development of phenotype? Discuss why organisms of the same species show variation. Use the terms: genetic and environmental variation, continuous and discontinuous variation. |
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Differences in the characteristics of individuals in a population is called variation and may be due to differences in:
- the genes they have inherited (genetic causes)
- the conditions in which they have developed (environmental causes)
- a combination of genes and the environment |
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How do differences in the characteristics of individuals occur? List different characteristics in which there is variation.
Include in the table whether each characteristic is due to genetic or environmental causes, or both. |
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Students should be able to state that there is usually extensive genetic variation within a population of a species |
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How much genetic variation is usually within a population? |
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A recessive allele is only expressed if two copies are present (therefore no dominant allele present). |
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When is a recessive allele expressed? |
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(Biology only) Mutations occur continuously. Very rarely a mutation will lead to a new phenotype. If the new phenotype is suited to an environmental change it can lead to a relatively rapid change in the species. There are links with this content to
Speciation (biology only). |
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(Biology only) How often do mutations occur and how often do they lead to a new phenotype? What happens when a new phenotype is suited to an environmental change? |
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Students should be able to describe evolution as a change in the
inherited characteristics of a population over time through a process of natural selection which may result in the formation of a new species.
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What is evolution? |
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The theory of evolution by natural selection states that all species of living things have evolved from simple life forms that first developed
more than three billion years ago. |
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What does the theory of evolution state? |
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Students should be able to explain how evolution occurs through natural selection of variants that give rise to phenotypes best suited to their environment. Use the theory of evolution by natural
selection in an explanation.
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How does evolution occur? |
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If two populations of one species become so different in phenotype
that they can no longer interbreed to produce fertile offspring they have formed two new species.
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How is a new species formed? |
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