Evolution and Medicine

  • Helps students understand evolution as a major unifying concept in biology
  • Grades 9–12 | © 2011 | Standards based
  • Five lessons designed to be taught in sequence over ten 45-minutes classes, featuring web-based components including interactive database and simulations
  • Developed using the BSCS 5E Instructional Model
  • This complimentary module is available from National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Evolution and Medicine curriculum supplement incorporate research-based pedagogical approaches to support teachers as they help student understand the fundamental concepts of this dynamic and exciting field of science.
Evolution and Medicine has four main objectives, to help students understand
  1. the importance of evolutionary comparisons for studying biomedical problems,
  2. the role of evolution in diseases, including how evolution explains many apects of humans' susceptibility to disease and how the principles of natural selection apply to specific diseases or health-related conditions,
  3. how evolution helps researchers and health workers better understand, prevent, and treat infectious diseases, and
  4. the process of scientific inquiry through studying evolution and medicine.

The supplement comes with a complete set of printed materials for teachers, including extensive background and resource information, detailed lesson plans, and masters for student worksheets. The website accompanying Evolution and Medicine features interactive materials to support the lessons.

This curriculum supplement was funded by the National Institutes of National Institutes of Health. It was developed by BSCS in cooperation with NIH.

Student Lessons

  1. Ideas about the role of Evolution in Medicine
  2. Investigating Lactos Intolerance and Evolution
  3. Evolutionary Processes and Patterns Inform Medicine
  4. Using Evolution to Understand Influenza
  5. Evaluating Evolutionary Explanations

To order your complimentary copy of this supplement or for more information, visit NIH Curriculum Supplement Series.