Part of GED® Science: Life Science
GED® Science: Evolution & Natural Selection (Deep Dive)
A deep dive into how life changes over time, expanding the single 'Evolution & Natural Selection' lesson from the GED® Life Science course into a full mini-course. You'll learn what evolution really means (populations change, not individuals), the four-step logic of natural selection, real cases you can watch (antibiotic resistance and the peppered moth), the independent lines of evidence for evolution, how to read a cladogram, and how new species form. Plain language, all-new labeled diagrams, common-misconception warnings, and GED®-style practice with full explanations throughout.
📚 Course Curriculum
Evolution is the change in the inherited traits of a population over many generations. The key word is population — a single organism does not …
Open trial session →The main engine of evolution is natural selection, an idea from Charles Darwin. It follows a clear four-step logic — remember it as V-I-S-T. [[figure:natural_selection_cycle …
Open trial session →Natural selection isn't only ancient history — we can watch it happen. Two classic cases make the logic concrete. [[figure:antibiotic_resistance An antibiotic kills the non-resistant …
Open trial session →Scientists support evolution with several independent lines of evidence that all point the same way. [[figure:homologous_structures The same bones — upper arm, forearm, fingers — …
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A cladogram is a branching diagram that shows hypotheses about how species are related. Each branch point (node) represents a common ancestor, and marks along …
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An adaptation is an inherited trait that improves survival or reproduction in a particular environment — camouflage, a thick coat, a drought-tolerant root. A selection …
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Course Syllabus
This self-paced GED® Science course follows a 6-lesson sequence. Work through the modules in order so that each skill supports the next.
Course sequence
Module 1 - Lessons 1-3
- Evolution: How Populations Change
- Natural Selection: The Four-Step Logic
- Selection in Action: Microbes & Moths
Module 2 - Lessons 4-6
- The Evidence for Evolution
- Cladograms: Reading Evolutionary Trees
- Adaptation, Speciation & Reading Evolution Data
Practice and completion
- Use worked examples and lesson practice to check understanding after each module.
- Review incorrect answers, explain the correction, and repeat weak skills.
- Complete the available mixed or final course practice to demonstrate readiness.
Course Outcomes
By the end of this course, learners will be able to:
- Explain the key scientific ideas and vocabulary in Evolution: How Populations Change.
- Interpret observations, data, models, or evidence related to Natural Selection: The Four-Step Logic.
- Apply scientific reasoning to questions involving Selection in Action: Microbes & Moths.
- Evaluate explanations and identify common errors about Cladograms: Reading Evolutionary Trees.
- Connect Adaptation, Speciation & Reading Evolution Data with other course concepts in mixed practice.
- Use feedback and answer explanations to diagnose and correct mistakes.
- Complete mixed, exam-style practice with clearer reasoning and greater independence.
📝 Practice Questions
30 interactive questions with instant feedback and explanations.
Enroll for free to unlock the full practice bank after the trial sessions.