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Evolution
    Argumentation and Evolution
            In a scientific argument, claims about the natural world should be supported or refuted by evidence, and by reas…

Item CA043005: Write an argument using correct evidence and sound reasoning to support a claim that chimpanzees and gorillas have a more recent common ancestry than chimpanzees and orangutans because their average genetic similarity is greater.

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Scientists studying evolution compared the DNA of chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans.

The scientists summarized their data in the following table:

Pair of Species Compared

Average Genetic Similarity

Chimpanzee and Gorilla

98%

Chimpanzee and Orangutan

97%

Gorilla and Orangutan

97%

 

When the scientists published their research, they made the following claim:

"Chimpanzees and gorillas have a more recent common ancestry than chimpanzees and orangutans."

What evidence and reasoning are the scientists using to make this claim?

Your answer should include evidence in the form of specific scientific data that supports the scientists' claim, and reasoning that uses scientific principles about heredity and common ancestry to justify why the data counts as evidence for their claim.

Topic
Argumentation and Evolution
Scoring Rubric

Evidence (3 points)

  • Cites specific data that supports the claim (98% genetic similarity for chimp and gorilla and 97% genetic similarity for chimpanzee and orangutan) – 1 point
  • Avoids citing data that is irrelevant to the claim (97% genetic similarity for gorilla and orangutan) – 1 point
  • Summarizes data (chimpanzee and gorilla have greater genetic/DNA similarity than chimpanzee and orangutan) – 1 point

Reasoning (4 points)

  • States the general principle that links evidence to claim (i.e., the greater the genetic similarity between 2 species, the more recently their common ancestor existed, or species with more genetic similarity have a more recent common ancestor) – 1 point
  • Provides a mechanism to explain the link between the claim and the evidence
    • Includes the idea that genes/DNA are inherited from parents – 1 point
    • Includes the idea that changes occur in genes/DNA, through mutation or recombination) – 1 point
    • Includes the idea that changes accumulate over time – 1 point
Distribution of Points Earned
Chart showing distrubtion of responses for Item AE043005
Points Earned
Group Earned Possible Percent
Overall 2793 15883 18%
Grades
  6–8 75 637 12%
  9–12 2473 14091 18%
Gender
  Male 1026 6741 15%
  Female 1553 8001 19%
Primary Language
  English 2505 14385 17%
  Other 70 441 16%

View data table

Distribution of Points Earned
Chart showing distrubtion of responses for Item AE043005
Points Earned
Group Earned Possible Percent
Overall 1689 7728 22%
Grades
  6–8 63 490 13%
  9–12 1395 6307 22%
Gender
  Male 609 3038 20%
  Female 898 3885 23%
Primary Language
  English 1445 6643 22%
  Other 32 231 14%

View data table

Distribution of Points Earned
Chart showing distrubtion of responses for Item AE043005
Points Earned
Group Earned Possible Percent
Overall 2050 8155 25%
Grades
  6–8 34 126 27%
  9–12 1832 7413 25%
Gender
  Male 814 3745 22%
  Female 1129 3997 28%
Primary Language
  English 1837 7385 25%
  Other 49 231 21%

View data table