Clarification Statement - S.MS.LS.4.2.CS:
Emphasis is on explanations of the evolutionary relationships among organisms in terms of similarity or differences of the gross appearance of anatomical structures as evidence of common ancestry.

Science and Engineering Practices - 6-8.SEP6.5:
Apply scientific ideas to construct an explanation for real-world phenomena, examples, or events.

Disciplinary Core Ideas - S.MS.LS.4.2.DCI:
LS4.A: Evidence of Common Ancestry and Diversity •Anatomical similarities and differences between various organisms living today and between them and organisms in the fossil record, enable the reconstruction of evolutionary history and the inference of lines of evolutionary descent.

Crosscutting Concepts - CC1.11:
Patterns can be used to identify cause and effect relationships.

Crosscutting Concepts - CC1.3:
Similarities and differences in patterns can be used to sort and classify organisms