Investigating Inheritance and Evolution

Year 9 Biology students have been exploring some of the most fascinating questions in modern science: why organisms inherit characteristics from their parents and how scientists gather evidence for evolution.

One practical activity saw students constructing DNA models, helping them visualise the molecule that carries genetic information in all living things. By building and examining these models, students developed an understanding of how DNA stores the biological instructions that are passed from one generation to the next. This new addition to the Year 9 Biology curriculum provides an important link between inheritance and evolution, helping students appreciate how modern science explains similarities and differences between organisms.

Students also stepped into the shoes of Charles Darwin and became “Galápagos finches” during an engaging simulation activity. Using a variety of tools to represent different beak shapes, students competed to collect different food sources and investigated how certain adaptations can provide an advantage in particular environments. The activity brought the theory of natural selection to life, demonstrating how environmental pressures can influence which individuals are most likely to survive and reproduce. 

These hands-on experiences complement students’ wider study of evolution, adaptation and common ancestry. By combining practical investigations with scientific theory, students are developing a deeper understanding of how life on Earth has changed over time and how modern biological evidence, including DNA, helps scientists uncover the history of living organisms. The enthusiasm and curiosity shown throughout these activities have demonstrated what makes Biology such an exciting and continually evolving science!