Overview: This news brief from December 2007 describes a new virulent strain of the common cold and examines how and why virulence evolves. Author/Source: UC Museum of Paleontology Grade level: 9-12 Time: 20 minutes Teaching tips: This article includes a set of discussion and extension questions for use in class. It also includes hints about related lessons that might be used in conjunction with this one. Get more tips for using Evo in the News articles in your classroom. Concepts: Evolution results from selection acting upon genetic variation within a population. Traits that confer an advantage may persist in the population and are called adaptations. Inherited characteristics affect the likelihood of an organism's survival and reproduction. Depending on environmental conditions, inherited characteristics may be advantageous, neutral, or detrimental. As with other scientific disciplines, evolutionary biology has applications that factor into everyday life. There is variation within a population. Teacher background: Relevance

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