Standard #: SC.912.L.15.14


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Discuss mechanisms of evolutionary change other than natural selection such as genetic drift and gene flow.


General Information

Subject Area: Science
Grade: 912
Body of Knowledge: Life Science
Idea: Level 2: Basic Application of Skills & Concepts
Standard: Diversity and Evolution of Living Organisms -

A. The scientific theory of evolution is the fundamental concept underlying all of biology.

B. The scientific theory of evolution is supported by multiple forms of scientific evidence.

C. Organisms are classified based on their evolutionary history.

D. Natural selection is a primary mechanism leading to evolutionary change.

Date Adopted or Revised: 02/08
Content Complexity Rating: Level 2: Basic Application of Skills & Concepts - More Information
Date of Last Rating: 05/08
Status: State Board Approved

Related Courses

Course Number1111 Course Title222
2000310: Biology 1 (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 - 2024, 2024 and beyond (current))
2000320: Biology 1 Honors (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 - 2024, 2024 and beyond (current))
2000430: Biology Technology (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 - 2024, 2024 and beyond (current))
3027020: Biotechnology 2 (Specifically in versions: 2015 and beyond (current))
2000380: Ecology (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 - 2024, 2024 and beyond (current))
2000440: Genetics Honors (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 - 2024, 2024 and beyond (current))
2002440: Integrated Science 3 (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 - 2024, 2024 and beyond (current))
2002450: Integrated Science 3 Honors (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 - 2024, 2024 and beyond (current))
2000410: Zoology (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 - 2024, 2024 and beyond (current))
2000800: Florida's Preinternational Baccalaureate Biology 1 (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 - 2024, 2024 and beyond (current))
7920015: Access Biology 1 (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2018, 2018 - 2023, 2023 and beyond (current))
2000315: Biology 1 for Credit Recovery (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 - 2024, 2024 and beyond (current))
2002445: Integrated Science 3 for Credit Recovery (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2020 (course terminated))


Related Access Points

Access Point Number Access Point Title
SC.912.L.15.Su.1 Match fossils to related species.
SC.912.L.15.Pa.1 Recognize that plants and animals change as they age.
SC.912.L.15.In.1 Identify that prehistoric plants and animals changed over time (evolved) or became extinct.


Related Resources

Lesson Plans

Name Description
The Evolutionary Processes of Population Change

This is a lesson plan designed to explain three evolutionary processes: natural selection, genetic drift, and gene flow. The lesson plan consists of a brief review about mutations and DNA, a PowerPoint discussion about the three evolutionary processes, and a hands-on activity. The activity is designed to help the students understand how populations change over time due to different traits in individuals in a population, as well as how to identify the different evolutionary processes in a population.

Asthma Island

In this activity, students simulate the founder effect on Tristan Da Cunha island. The island is located in the Southern Atlantic Ocean between South America and the southern part of Africa. It is the most isolated island on earth. The island's population is is 268 people and there are now 80 families that live in the island. Students will explore genetic drift (bottleneck and founder effect) and the importance of genetic variation in a population.

Is Natural Selection Random?

Students will use the real-world example of Hurricane Opal wiping out the beach mouse population from Shell Island in 1995. Students will identify the environmental pressures that led to the differentiation of the Choctawhatchee beach mouse from the mainland population (St. Andrew beach mouse) as natural selection. They will examine the beach mouse population on this island immediately following the hurricane as an example of genetic drift, and the re-population of the island as gene flow. Students will then track changes in the population from the initial re-population following the hurricane to the current population and relate this to natural selection.

Selection Dance Party

In this lesson, students will learn how sexual selection leads to the evolution of species by exploring how courtship rituals lead to the selection of traits in a population.

Evolution of a Bead Population

Students practice modeling the processes of genetic drift, gene flow, the founder effect and natural selection using a population of colored pony beads.

Island Biogeography

Students will study the concept of speciation and predict an island habitat"s biodiversity based on the island's size and distance from the mainland.

Original Student Tutorial

Name Description
Beyond Natural Selection: Mechanisms of Evolution

Explore mechanisms of evolutionary change other than natural selection such as mutation, gene flow, and genetic drift in this interactive tutorial.

Perspectives Video: Expert

Name Description
Methods of Evolution in Animal Populations Big and Small

Interested in how evolution happens? Drift into this video and go with the flow.

Download the CPALMS Perspectives video student note taking guide.

Problem-Solving Task

Name Description
Aggresion in Dogs: Evolution of a Species Scientists know all dogs descended from the gray wolf, but they don't know exactly how that happened. In this activity, students will engage in a card game simulation to learn how selective pressures can affect an organism's evolution.

Teaching Idea

Name Description
Simulating Evolutionary Processes with Poker Chips

In this lesson, students use colored discs to simulate changes in population allele frequencies that occur due to evolutionary processes. They first show that allele frequencies do not change when only random mating occurs in a population. Then they demonstrate the effects of natural selection, genetic drift, gene flow, and mutation on population allele frequencies. 

Text Resources

Name Description
The Oldest Fish in the World Lived 500 Million Years Ago

This informational text resource is intended to support reading in the content area. The article describes the discovery of an ancient fish that provides scientists with a "missing link" in the fossil record, helping them understand when and how organisms transitioned from boneless, jawless organisms into the fish that dominate the oceans today. The text details the adaptations these ancient fish had and draws connections to adaptations found in later species.

New Housecat-Size Feline Species Discovered

This informational text is intended to support reading in the content area. The article discusses how scientists have discovered a species of Oncilla (little tiger cats) in Northeastern Brazil, which are a genetically different species than those in the rest of South America.

Remote Sheep Population Resists Genetic Drift

This informational text resource is intended to support reading in the content area. This article describes a mouflon population located on a remote island in the Indian Ocean. This population of sheep was transplanted to Haute Island over 50 years ago. Recent studies show that the population has maintained its genetic diversity. This finding challenges scientists' beliefs about the theories of genetic drift and shows the power of natural selection.

Video/Audio/Animations

Name Description
Mechanisms of Evolution This TED Ed video explains the mechanisms of evolutionary change: change in population size, sexual selection, mutation, gene flow, and natural selection.
Pocket Mouse Evolution This simulation shows the spread of a favorable mutation through a population of pocket mice. Even a small selective advantage can lead to a rapid evolution of the population.

Student Resources

Original Student Tutorial

Name Description
Beyond Natural Selection: Mechanisms of Evolution:

Explore mechanisms of evolutionary change other than natural selection such as mutation, gene flow, and genetic drift in this interactive tutorial.

Perspectives Video: Expert

Name Description
Methods of Evolution in Animal Populations Big and Small:

Interested in how evolution happens? Drift into this video and go with the flow.

Download the CPALMS Perspectives video student note taking guide.

Video/Audio/Animations

Name Description
Mechanisms of Evolution: This TED Ed video explains the mechanisms of evolutionary change: change in population size, sexual selection, mutation, gene flow, and natural selection.
Pocket Mouse Evolution: This simulation shows the spread of a favorable mutation through a population of pocket mice. Even a small selective advantage can lead to a rapid evolution of the population.


Parent Resources

Perspectives Video: Expert

Name Description
Methods of Evolution in Animal Populations Big and Small:

Interested in how evolution happens? Drift into this video and go with the flow.

Download the CPALMS Perspectives video student note taking guide.



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