S.7.13.D | TEKS Guide

SCIENCE.7.13.D — Vertical Alignment

Vertical alignment shows student expectations in the same subject area at different grade levels that are related to or build upon one another.

S.7.13.D

describe and give examples of how natural and artificial selection change the occurrence of traits in a population over generations.

BIO.7.C

identify and illustrate changes in DNA and evaluate the significance of these changes; and

BIO.10.A

analyze and evaluate how natural selection produces change in populations and not in individuals;

BIO.10.B

analyze and evaluate how the elements of natural selection, including inherited variation, the potential of a population to produce more offspring than can survive, and a finite supply of environmental resources, result in differential reproductive success;

BIO.10.C

analyze and evaluate how natural selection may lead to speciation; and

BIO.10.D

analyze evolutionary mechanisms other than natural selection, including genetic drift, gene flow, mutation, and genetic recombination, and their effect on the gene pool of a population.

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Recurring themes and concepts — Connections to the content

Recurring themes and concepts provide a connective structure for scientific ideas across disciplines. The connection(s) below show some ways that teachers can help students understand how the content they are learning fits into the broader understanding of science. These connections do not represent all possible connections that might be made but highlight some that are appropriate for this grade level.

Patterns

Patterns are regular sequences that can be found throughout nature.

Natural and artificial selection have different patterns in how traits change over time. For example, natural selection is random, and artificial selection is purposeful. Natural selection is driven by the environment, and artificial selection is purposefully manipulated by humans.

Cause-and-effect relationships

Cause-and-effect relationships are relationships between two or more variables or phenomena whereby one variable or event leads to a predictable response. Events have causes—sometimes simple, sometimes multi-faceted.

When humans selectively breed or cultivate organisms (cause), the offspring are more likely to show the desired traits (effect). In natural selection, it is environmental factors (cause) that will determine which traits are desirable and, therefore, which organisms have greater reproductive success (effect).

Scale, proportion, and quantity in systems

It is important to consider how changes in scale, proportion, or quantity affect a system’s structure or performance. Scale refers to the size of an object in relation to another object or its environment. Proportion is the ratio of one quantity to another. Quantity is a count of a set of objects or a measurement of a substance.

The occurrence of traits in a population is most easily discussed in terms of the quantity of organisms with a particular trait in relation to the total population (proportion). In artificial selection, humans cause the population's ratio of a desired trait to increase over time. In natural selection, environmental pressures affect the ratios of various traits.

Cross-curricular Connections

The cross-curricular connections are designed to help educators make content connections between the science TEKS and math, English language arts and reading, social studies, and technology applications. The standards below illustrate alignment between grade level content areas which may help educators develop cross-curricular lessons. These connections do not represent all possible connections that might be made.

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Math

English Language Arts and Reading

Science.7.13.D

SCIENCE.7.13.D — Vertical Alignment

Recurring themes and concepts — Connections to the content

Cross-curricular Connections