Babies & Sexual Evolution Unit

Unit Bundles Template

Content Area (name the class Grade Teacher Name(s):

and the broad topic): Level: Chelsea Brown
Biology
(Genetics, Inheritance, 9th Teacher Email(s):
Mitosis/Meiosis, Natural cbrown@fwps.org
Selection, Evolution)

Anchoring phenomenon
Many baby animals are born with the ability to walk, eat, communicate, and survive on their own.
Human babies are extremely needy and dependent in comparison. We are trying to figure out why
humans are born so needy and what that has to do with the evolution of our species.

Essential question about phenomenon/unit:

Why are human babies so needy (dependent on others)? How do babies develop and get the traits that
they have?

Gapless explanation:

There are a variety of different evolutionary theories at play that have led to human baby dependence.
Examples could include brain size evolution, which has helped humans to survive longer and be more
picky when it comes to choosing a mate. As brains got bigger, there was the constraint of head size at
birth and what is safe and survivable for the mother. As bipedalism evolved, humans are thought to
have become more sexually adventurous (few species have sex face to face), and the pelvis shape
changed, altering childbirth. There is only a certain size that babies can grow that mothers can still give
birth safely. Monogamy and kin care have also evolved to increase survival rates of offspring, so while
babies may be born more dependent, they have the supports needed to survive. Sexual selection has
also played a part because the more advanced thinkers could be more choosy in their mate, leading to
their offspring being more likely to express these same traits.
The traits of a baby come from the combination of parent gametes. Human reproduction involves the
uniting of egg and sperm in the process called fertilization. Sexual reproduction is when male and
female gametes come together to create a genetically unique offspring. In humans, we reproduce
sexually, leading to higher genetic diversity (differences in DNA). In comparison to asexual organisms,
we produce less offspring, but have a higher survival rate. The process of meiosis is how we make
gametes (sex cells). In meiosis, chromosomes undergo crossing over, which leads to new
combinations of DNA that further contribute to genetic diversity in offspring. When two humans
reproduce, their egg and sperm combine. The possibilities of chromosomes created during meiosis
combine into a zygote to make a new unique individual that gets DNA from mom and from dad.
Humans are made up of cells. Cell growth and division occurs through the cell cycle. When there are
no problems, an organism can continue to develop normally. A normal cell is needed for normal cell
processes to occur (such as protein synthesis), which ultimately leads to the makeup of physical traits
of an organism.

*Not sure where to fit in: Chimpanzees have similar life cycles to humans, but some differences in
terms of dependence and age at reproduction. Through the divergence and of our species, differences
in traits and behaviors have evolved over time.

NGSS Performance Expectations addressed in this unit:

HS-LS3-1.Ask questions to clarify relationships about the role of DNA and chromosomes in coding the
instructions for characteristic traits passed from parents to offspring.

HS-LS3-2. Make and defend a claim based on evidence that inheritable genetic variations may result
from: (1) new genetic combinations through meiosis, (2) viable errors occurring during replication,
and/or (3) mutations caused by environmental factors.

HS-LS4-1. Communicate scientific information that common ancestry and biological evolution are
supported by multiple lines of empirical evidence.

HS-LS4-2. Construct an explanation based on evidence that the process of evolution primarily results
from four factors: (1) the potential for a species to increase in number, (2) the heritable genetic
variation of individuals in a species due to mutation and sexual reproduction, (3) competition for limited
resources, and (4) the proliferation of those organisms that are better able to survive and reproduce in
the environment.

HS-LS4-4. Construct an explanation based on evidence for how natural selection leads to adaptation of
populations.

Summary Table of ALL Activities in Unit

 Activity Learning Target Evidence Students Connection to Phenomena
Could Gain

Model and initial I can use my

ideas about background
babies knowledge to
develop initial ideas
and questions

Activity 1: I can explain the -Basics of sexual Human reproduction involves the
Where do babies process of sexual reproduction uniting of egg and sperm in the
come from? reproduction in -Vocabulary (sperm, process called fertilization.
(Jigsaw) humans. egg, ovum,
& fertilization, zygote,
misconceptions fetus)
about sex
(Discussion)

CCC: Patterns

SEP: Obtaining,
Evaluating, and
Communicating
Information

Activity 2: I can explore how -Humans reproduce Sexual reproduction is when male
Asexual & various species sexually, which means and female gametes come together
Sexual survive and there is more diversity, to create a genetically unique
Reproducing reproduce but can make offspring. In humans, we reporduce
Organisms (mini reproduction more sexually, leading to higher genetic
poster) difficult/costly diversity (differences in DNA). In
CCC: Patterns comparison to asexual organisms,
we produce less offspring, but have a
SEP: higher survival rate.
Constructing
Explanations,
Obtaining,
Evaluating, and
Communicating
Information

Activity 3: I can describe and -Crossing over adds to The process of meiosis is how we
Gummy Worm model the process of genetic diversity make gametes (sex cells). In
Meiosis meiosis meiosis, chromosomes undergo
CCC: Patterns, crossing over, which leads to new
combinations of DNA that further
SEP: contribute to genetic diversity in
Constructing offspring.
Explanations,
Obtaining,
Evaluating, and
Communicating
Information

Activity 4: I can connect -The combination of When two humans reproduce, their
Dragon Genetics meiosis to egg and sperm egg and sperm combine. The
CCC: Patterns, development and determine specific possibilities of chromosomes created
Cause and genetics traits in an offspring during meiosis combine into a zygote
Effect to make a new unique individual that
gets DNA from mom and from
SEP: dad.
Constructing
Explanations,
Obtaining,
Evaluating, and
Communicating
Information

Activity 5: I can research and -Comparisons Chimpanzees have similar life cycles
Human & Chimp describe the between humans and to humans, but some differences in
Development development of chimpanzees terms of dependence and age at
Brochures humans and -Different stages of reproduction. Through the
CCC: Patterns chimpanzees human development divergence and of our species,
and changes that differences in traits and behaviors
SEP: Obtaining, occur at each have evolved over time.
Evaluating, and
Communicating
Information

Activity 6: I can describe the -We grow and develop Humans are made up of cells. Cell
Mitosis and Cell cell cycle and its through the process of growth and division occurs through
Cycle Booklet importance in the mitosis. the cell cycle. When there are no
CCC: Patterns, body -Issues in the cell problems, an organism can continue
Cause and cycle can lead to to develop normally. A normal cell is
Effect problems such as needed for normal cell processes to
cancer occur (such as protein synthesis),
SEP: which ultimately leads to the makeup
Constructing of physical traits of an organism.
Explanations,
Obtaining,
Evaluating, and
Communicating
Information

Activity 7: I can use evidence of -Humans have There are a variety of different
Sexual Evolution evolution to support evolved in many ways evolutionary theories at play that
Projects why animals have that have altered the have led to human baby
CCC: Patterns, certain lifespan, preferences, dependence. Examples could include
Cause and traits/behaviors. and sexual encounters brain size evolution, which has
Effect of humans helped humans to survive longer and
be more picky when it comes to
SEP: choosing a mate. As brains got
Constructing bigger, there was the constraint of
Explanations, head size at birth and what is safe
Engaging in and survivable for the mother. As
Arguments, bipedalism evolved, humans are
Obtaining, thought to have become more
Evaluating, and sexually adventurous (few species
Communicating have sex face to face), and the pelvis
Information shape changed, altering childbirth.
There is only a certain size that
babies can grow that mothers can
still give birth safely. Monogamy and
kin care have also evolved to
increase survival rates of offspring,
so while babies may be born more
dependent, they have the supports
needed to survive. Sexual selection
has also played a part because the
more advanced thinkers could be
more choosy in their mate, leading to
their offspring being more likely to
express these same traits.

Final model I can use evidence to (Gapless explanation)

CCC: Patterns, support why human
Cause and babies have certain
Effect traits

SEP:
Constructing
Explanations,
Engaging in
Arguments,
Obtaining,
Evaluating, and
Communicating
Information

Additional Documents

Initial Model (needs work)