One of the key aspects of natural selection is competition, yet the concept of competition is not necessarily emphasized in explanations of natural selection. Because of this, we developed an activity for our class that focuses on competition and provides an example of the effects of competition on natural selection. This hands-on activity models…

Students in introductory biology courses frequently have misconceptions regarding natural selection. In this paper, we describe six activities that biology instructors can use to teach undergraduate students in introductory biology courses how natural selection causes evolution. These activities begin with a lesson introducing students to natural…

Understanding homology is fundamental to learning about evolution. The present study shows an exercise that can be varied in complexity, for which students compile research illustrating the fate of homologous fish skull elements, and assemble a mural to serve as a learning aid. The skull of the most primitive living Actinopterygian (bony fish),…

Cladistics is one of the most commonly used methods for reconstructing evolutionary ancestries. Developed by Willi Hennig in 1966, cladistics use patterns of shared derived characters called synapomorphies to infer the order of lineage divergences within a group of organisms. Unfortunately, while this methodology forms the foundation of many…

Presents a simple model that can help students think about evolution and better understand the gradualist and punctuationist macroevolution approaches. The model also improves instruction for concepts of mutation, selection, fitness, extinction, and origin of life. Describes an IBM computer program for instruction in these areas. (PR)