The Origin of Flight: What Use Is Half a Wing?
Topic
Resource Type
Duration
00:08:16Description
In this video, biologist Ken Dial demonstrates that birds use their wings for more than just flying, which may help us understand how dinosaurs used their small wing-like limbs before the evolution of flight.
Critics of evolutionary theory asked Charles Darwin “What use is half a wing?” In other words, what evolutionary advantage would a feathered limb, the precursor to a wing, provide? Dial’s research suggests an answer. At the University of Montana’s Flight Lab, he has been researching the mechanics of bird flight and wing use. His experiments with young birds that have wings but still can’t fly provide a plausible hypothesis for the use of feathered limbs by flightless dinosaurs.
The video provides a clear example of the scientific process in action, and how the behaviors of modern species can provide insight into the behaviors of species known only from the fossil record.
The accompanying “Student Worksheet” incorporates concepts and information from the video.
An audio descriptive version of the film is available via our media player.
Student Learning Targets
- Learn about research practices.
- Develop scientific explanations and justify claims using evidence.
- Analyze and interpret data from a scientific experiment.
Estimated Time
Key Terms
adaptation, bird, co-option, dinosaur, exaptation, scientific methodology, scientific process, theropod
Terms of Use
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Accessibility Level (WCAG compliance)
Version History
NGSS (2013)
HS-LS4-4; HS-LS4.C; SEP4, SEP5
AP Biology (2019)
EVO-1.D; SP6
IB Biology (2016)
5.1, 5.2
Common Core (2010)
ELA.RST.9-12.7, ELA.WHST.9-12.1
Math.S-IC.3; MP3
Vision and Change (2009)
CC1; DP1, DP2