Darwin and the Galápagos Islands
This article was originally published in Carolina Tips® in November 1989. It was updated in August 2025. Mr. West photographed the natural world for Carolina Biological Supply Company. His work garnered many awards.—Ed. History The Galápagos Archipelago consists of 13 major and 6 minor islands, 42 named islets, and numerous rocks, all volcanic in origin. […]
Constructing a Cladogram with Hydra, Planaria, and Daphnia
A CAROLINA ESSENTIALS INVESTIGATION Quick Links Close Quick Links Open Quick Links Introduction Materials Safety Procedures Labsheeet Introduction Materials Safety Procedures Labsheeet Overview In this lab students compare the body structure and functions of three invertebrates to that of a vertebrate. They use their data to construct a cladogram. Download Student Lab Sheet Download Anatomy […]
The Evolution and Survival of the Galápagos Medium Ground Finch
A CAROLINA ESSENTIALS INVESTIGATION Total Time Prep: 15 mins Activity: 20-30 mins Life Science Grade Level 9-12 High School Quick Links Close Quick Links Open Quick Links Introduction Essential Question NGSS Materials Procedures Analysis & Discussion Reference kit Helpful Links Buy the Kit Introduction Essential Question NGSS Materials Procedures Analysis & Discussion Reference kit Helpful […]
Why Don’t Whales Have Legs?
Introduce Your Class to Inquiry Through Science and Engineering Practices The Next Generation Science Standards ask that students be engaged in the same activities that scientists and engineers use to complete research, solve problems, and design solutions. Mastering those skills and activities takes practice, and a lot of it, but there are always opportunities for […]
Introduction to Cladogram Construction
A CAROLINA ESSENTIALS INVESTIGATION Total Time Prep: 15 mins Activity: 30-45 mins Life Science Grade Level 9-12 High School Quick Links Close Quick Links Open Quick Links Introduction Essential Question NGSS Materials Procedures Analysis Kit Resources Introduction Essential Question NGSS Materials Procedures Analysis Kit Resources Introduction Cladograms are diagrams that show phylogenies, the evolutionary relationships between […]
From Euglena to Zebra Fish: An Overview of the Diversity of Eyes
The light-sensing organs and eyes of living organisms have long fascinated the general public and scientists alike. Scientists ask questions such as “How do the ‘eyes’ on planaria work?,” “What is the ‘eyespot’ on the Euglena for?,” and “What are the steps in the development of zebra fish vision as the animal develops from a fertilized egg […]
Making Scents of the World
Nobel Prize-Winning Research My terrier, Harley, spends most of his life with his nose to the ground. The intensity of his olfactory surveillance makes me think that the world must smell entirely different to him than it does to me. Recent research on the molecular genetics of sensory receptors gives us a clue to Harley […]
Genetic Differences Affecting Taste and Smell
To Smell, or Not to Smell–That Is the Question Why is coffee a morning necessity for some people but entirely too bitter for others? What makes roses smell lovely to some, while others can smell nothing at all? As humans, we perceive tastes and smells differently, and to understand why those differences exist we need […]
The Science Behind Lactose Intolerance
In partnership with the DNA Learning Center (DNALC) at the famous Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, we developed a kit that brings the connections between lactose intolerance, evolution, and enzyme functionality into the hands of students.
Fox Domestication and Poison Resistance in Rodents
Examples to Use When Teaching About Selection and Evolution: Fox Domestication and Poison Resistance in Rodents Evolution and the role that natural selection plays in evolution can be difficult to teach. Evolution occurs over many generations and generally over long periods of time, increasing the abstraction of the concept for many students. Using concrete examples […]