Lines of evolutionary evidence

Format: APA format (see Purdue OWL website for proper formatting of cover page, section headings, and citations), double spaced, 12 pt. font, 1″ margins, Times New Roman, no direct quotations (practice paraphrasing). No set page length – as long as it takes to cover all details for each paper section. At least 5 scholarly citations.

Preface:

Evolution leaves many observable signs in all organisms. We will be examining natural selection and five of the many lines of evidence in support of evolution:

1. The fossil record
2. Biogeography
3. Comparative anatomy
4. Comparative embryology
5. Molecular biology

Your task is to choose a species on which you would like to do research and report information on natural selection and each of the five lines of evolutionary evidence found in that species. You may choose any species listed below. Within the next week, email me your first and second species choices. Topics are first come, first served.

Paper Section (each section – except cover page – should be at least 1 well-formed paragraph and should have a section heading):

1. Cover Page — APA format. Be sure to include a running head, an informative title, your name, campus location, date, instructor name, and class section and period.
2. Introduction — Introduce the species you are reporting on. What is it? Explain the entire classification of the organism beginning with domain and ending with species. Where can this species be found? How is the species used by humans (i.e. —pets, food, logging industry, not used, etc.)? End with a thesis statement building up to the following sections on your evidence of evolution found within this species. This thesis statement should be something that you can argue/support with the body of the paper. Usually this involves choosing a specific adaptation and following it through the series of evolutionary evidence. Include citations.
3. Fossil Record — What did the fossil record tell us in terms of ancestry? What did your species descend from? You must include dates and fossil age comparisons. Find examples of specific fossils, give their ages, and calculate differences in age. Include citations.
4. Biogeography — Where was your species or species’ ancestors originally found? Where can your species be found now and why? Include citations.
5. Comparative Anatomy — What other species share(s) similar structure(s) as your species? Remember to use homologous structures, not analogous structures. Does your species have any vestigial structures? Include citations.
6. Comparative Embryology — How is your species similar to other species while as an embryo? Include citations.
7. Molecular Biology — How does your species compare to other similar species at the genetic level? Which species is it more similar/less similar to, genetically speaking? Include citations.
8. Natural Selection — This is not optional. You must write about natural selection. Does your species overproduce offspring.
9. Conclusion — Treat this as a “back of the book cover” summary of your research paper. Challenge yourself to summarize the most important evidence of evolution in about 250 words.
10. Literature Cited — You all know my policy on plagiarism (see course syllabus). Don’t do it or there will be consequences. This applies not only to plagiarism of another student’s work but also of a reference material. You must appropriately cite, in APA format, all material used. Be sure to use your own words in your paper. This will ensure that you understand the material to the best degree possible. Remember to refer to the Purdue OWL website to see examples of how to create proper in-text and reference list citations in APA format. The “Library Databases” link in the “TSTC Helpful Resources” box on the side or bottom of the Moodle course will be of help in finding scholarly sources for your paper. This section should be about embryonic development, NOT how the organism reproduces — it is not the same thing. Sources should always be listed alphabetically by author’s last name, and there must always be a source listed at the end of the paper that matches up with an in-text citation in the body of the paper.