Name: __________________________

Date: _________________ Period: ____

Exploring Evolution Web Lab

Go to:
http://www2.edc.org/weblabs/ExploringEvolution/ExploringEvolutionMenu.ht
ml
Click on Enter Web Lab
1. On the second screen, a definition for evolution is given. How do they
define evolution?

2. In this simulation what is the animal you will be exploring?

3. List the 3 hypotheses that we will be considering:
a.
b.
c.

Lets examine the DNA evidence first. Click on the DNA

to move

to this section.
4. In general, the more ______________________ the DNA of two organisms
is, the more closely related they are.

5. If two creatures have similar DNA, does this necessarily mean that one
evolved
from the other? If not, what does it mean?
6. Click on the Perissodactyl DNA. Then, give three modern examples of
Perissodactyls:

7. Click on the Artiodactyl DNA. Then, give three modern examples of

Artiodactyls:

8. Which organisms DNA looks most like whale DNA?

Hint: Make sure to compare Perissodactyl DNA to Whale DNA and
Artiodactyl DNA to Whale DNA, not Artiodactyl DNA to Perissodactyl DNA.

9. Which hypotheses does this DNA evidence seem to support?

On the left side of the screen, you will see a side of a sheet of paper.
Click on this to bring up your notepad for your evidence. Keep track of
the hypotheses that are supported by the different types of evidence.

Now, select

(the magnifying glass at the bottom of the screen) and

lets examine the Fossil Evidence.

10.

List the fossils you found from youngest (top of the fossils layers)

to oldest (bottom of the fossil layers).

11.

There are 5 of them.

Which of the hypotheses does this fossil evidence seem to

support?

Be sure to list your evidence on the piece of paper.

Now, select

(the magnifying glass at the bottom of the screen)

and lets examine the Comparative Anatomy Evidence.

12.

What are the names of the 5 bones you explored?

13.

Which bone did you find most useful for evaluating your

hypotheses? Why?

14. Which of the hypotheses does this fossil evidence seem to support?

Be sure to list your evidence on the piece of paper.

You are now ready to solve the case! Click the check mark and hit yes
when prompted. What did you conclude? Be sure to state the hypothesis
(claim) and the data (evidence) to support it.
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Name:____KEY_____________

Exploring Evolution Web Lab

Go to:
http://www2.edc.org/weblabs/ExploringEvolution/ExploringEvolutionMenu.ht
ml
Click on Enter Web Lab
1. On the second screen, a definition for evolution is given. How do they
define evolution?
Change through time.
2. In this simulation what is the animal you will be exploring?

Whale

3. List the 3 hypotheses that we will be considering:

a. Whales evolved from a land mammal.
b. Whales evolved from the mesonychids, an extinct group
of perissodactyls (odd-toed land mammals).
c. Whales evolved from a group of artiodactyls (even-toed
land
mammals).
Lets do the DNA evidence first. Click on the DNA to move to this
section.

4. In general, the more __similar____________ the DNA of two organisms

is, the more closely related they are.
5. If two creatures have similar DNA, does this necessarily mean that one
evolved
from the other? If not, what does it mean?
No, but they are more likely to share a common ancestor than
two organisms
with dissimilar DNA.
6. Click on the Perissodactyl DNA. Then, give three modern examples of
Perissodactyls:
tapirs, rhinos, and horses.
7. Click on the Artiodactyl DNA, Then, give three modern examples of
Artiodactyls:
pigs, deer, cows, goats, giraffes, hippos (pick any three)
8. Which organisms DNA looks most like whale DNA?
Hint: Make sure to compare Perissodactyl DNA to Whale DNA and Artiodactyl
DNA to Whale DNA, not Artiodactyl DNA to Perissodactyl DNA.

Artiodactyl DNA
9. Which hypotheses does this DNA evidence seem to support?
Whales evolved from a group of artiodactyls (even-toed land
mammals).

On the left side of the screen, you will see a side of a sheet of paper.
Click on this to bring up your notepad for your evidence. Choose all of
the hypotheses that you feel this evidence supports and click the box

to the left of the number. This will then allow you to mark which
evidence supports that hypothesis.

Now select Explore (The magnifying glass at the bottom of the screen) and
lets go to Fossil Evidence.
10. List the fossils you found from youngest (top of the fossils layers) to
oldest (bottom of the fossil layers).
- Cetotherium

- Basilosaurus

- Pakicetus
11.

There are 5 of them

-Ambulocetus

- Mesonychid

Which of the hypotheses does this fossil evidence seem to

support?
Whales evolved from a group of artiodactyls (even-toed land
mammals).

Be sure to list your evidence on the piece of paper on the left hand side as
listed above.

Now select Explore (The magnifying glass at the bottom of the screen) and
lets go to Comparative Anatomy Evidence.
12.

What are the names of the 5 bones you explored?

- femur

- radius/ulna

- pelvis

- nostrils

13.

- scapula

Which bone did you find most useful for looking at your

hypotheses? Why?

Pelvis It could be a vestigial body part since a pelvis would not be

useful to an animal that spends its whole life in the water. However
it would be useful for a land animal
14. Which of the hypotheses does this fossil evidence seem to support?
Whales evolved from a land mammal (which could support either of
the other two hypotheses).
Be sure to list your evidence on the piece of paper on the left hand side as
listed above.

You are now ready to solve the case! Click the check mark and hit yes
when prompted.
15. Based on your evidence, which do you think is the best
hypothesis?
You can only choose 1 so choose the most specific one that you believe is true.
Make sure that you have all of the evidence checked that you feel applies. If not, it
will not work correctly.

Whales evolved from a group of artiodactyls (even-toed land

mammals).