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Timeline of Evolutionary Thought

Run the Timeline of Evolutionary Thought Fullscreen

About This MicroSim

This interactive timeline traces the development of evolutionary thinking from Carl Linnaeus's classification system in 1735 through the completion of the Human Genome Project in 2003. Events are color-coded by era: Pre-Darwin (gray), Darwin Era (green), Modern Synthesis (blue), and Molecular Era (purple).

How to Use

  1. Hover over any event to see a context tooltip with AP Biology connections.
  2. Click an event to expand its full description and AP exam context in the detail panel below the timeline.
  3. Filter by era using the category buttons to focus on a specific period.
  4. Navigate with the pan (arrows) and zoom (+/−) buttons, or drag the timeline to pan.
  5. Fit All resets the view to show all events.

Lesson Plan

Grade Level

9-12 (AP Biology)

Duration

10-15 minutes

Prerequisites

Basic understanding of what evolution means in a biological context.

Activities

  1. Exploration (5 min): Students explore the full timeline, clicking on each event to read descriptions. Ask: "Which ideas influenced Darwin the most?"
  2. Guided Practice (5 min): Use the filter buttons to isolate one era at a time. For each era, discuss how the ideas built on previous work.
  3. Assessment (5 min): Students answer: "Why was Mendel's work important even though Darwin never knew about it?" and "How did the Modern Synthesis resolve the conflict between genetics and natural selection?"

Assessment

  • Students can list 3 pre-Darwin influences on evolutionary thought.
  • Students can explain why deep geological time was necessary for Darwin's theory.
  • Students can describe how Mendelian genetics completed Darwin's theory.

References

  1. AP Biology Course and Exam Description — College Board
  2. Evolution — Wikipedia
  3. History of Evolutionary Thought — Wikipedia