Date: Period

Name: __________________________________________________ Date: ________________ Period: _____

Whale Evolution Internet Lesson Directions: Answer the following questions by visiting the web site below. http://www2.edc.org/weblabs/ExploringEvolution/evolution.swf Introduction 1)

Define EVOLUTION. _______________________________________________________________________________________

click NEXT 2)

What group of life are whales placed within? _____________________________________________________________________

3)

What are the two mysteries you will try and solve? a.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

b.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

click NEXT 4)

Simply copy each of the 3 hypotheses. At the end, you will decide which hypothesis is best. a.

Hypothesis 1: Whales evolved from _________________________________________________________________________

b.

Hypothesis 2: Whales evolved from the ______________________________________________________________________

c.

Hypothesis 3: Whales evolved from a _______________________________________________________________________

click NEXT and then click DNA EVIDENCE 5)

How can we tell from DNA if two organisms are related? ___________________________________________________________

6)

Define DNA CODING. ______________________________________________________________________________________

7)

What does it mean when 2 different animals have similar DNA coding? ________________________________________________

click PERISSODACTYL DNA 8)

Define PERISSODACTYL. ___________________________________________________________________________________

9)

Give three examples of modern perissodactyls. a.

_________________________

b. _________________________

c. _________________________

Click the EXTINCT PERISSODACTYLS 10) When did perissodactyls first arise? _____________________________________________________________________________ 11) What is special about Baluchitherium? __________________________________________________________________________ Click BALUCHITHERIUM 12) Examine the picture. Baluchitherium is about _______________ times taller than humans. Return to the DNA page & click ARTIODACTYL DNA 13) Define ARTIODACTYLS. ___________________________________________________________________________________ 14) What do ungulates have on their feet? ___________________________________________________________________________ 15) Give three examples of modern artiodactyls. a.

_________________________

b. _________________________

c. _________________________

Return to the DNA page & click WHALE DNA 16) What are four characteristics of all mammals? a.

____________________________________________

c. ____________________________________________

b.

____________________________________________

d. ____________________________________________

17) What does it mean to be warm-blooded? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Return to the DNA page & click COMPARE DNA. (If “Compare DNA” does not appear, refresh your browser and re-click on perissodactyl DNA, artiodactyl DNA, and whale DNA.) 18) Drag the perissodactyl DNA to the left. Drag the whale DNA to the middle. Drag the artiodactyl DNA to the right. Which looks most like whale DNA? ____________ 19) What do you think the answer to #18 means? _____________________________________________________________________ Close the DNA screen. Click EXPLORE (the magnifying glass) and then click FOSSIL EVIDENCE. 20) Click “sedimentary rock” to answer the two questions below. a.

What is sediment made from? __________________________________________________________________________

b.

What is a horizontal layer of sedimentary rock called? ______________________________________________________

21) State the Law of Superposition. ________________________________________________________________________________ Directions: Click around the page until you find the 5 hidden fossils. Once you find them, drag the bones to the right side of the screen. 22) Fill in the table below from the information provided with the 5 fossils discovered. Cetotherium

Basilosaurus

Ambulocetus

Pakicetus

Mesonychid

Age of fossil in millions of years 23) Click on the five fossils you found to answer the questions below. a.

Which two fossils have ear bones similar to whales today? __________________________

__________________________

b.

Which whale might have lived on land and in water? ___________________________________________________________

c.

Why do scientists believe Basilosaurus only lived in water? ______________________________________________________

d.

Which fossil has hind legs and flippers for swimming? __________________________________________________________

click NEW DISCOVERY (If “New Discovery” did not appear, refresh your browser and re-click to find the five fossils.) 24) What was discovered for the 1st time in 2001? ____________________________________________________________________ 25) The bones discovered in 2001 resemble the bones of which?

Perissodactyl

or

Artiodactyls

26) What do you think the answer to #25 means? _____________________________________________________________________ Close NEW DISCOVERY and click EXPLORE (magnifying glass) and then COMPARATIVE ANATOMY 27) Define ANATOMY. ________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 28) Why do mammals share common physical traits? _________________________________________________________________ Move your mouse over the picture of the whale. Click on the whale’s pelvis. 29) What do modern whales have that makes scientists believe their ancestors lived on land? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 30) A human appendix and the leg bones of a snake are examples of ___________________________ parts. 31) Define VESTIGIAL body parts. _______________________________________________________________________________ Close the Whale Hip screen and click SOLVE (check mark) 32) From the information you read throughout this web site, which hypothesis best explains the evolution of modern whales? Be sure to examine your previous answers. This question will be graded for accuracy. Hypothesis 1

Hypothesis 2

Hypothesis 3