Keyword: «synthetic theory of evolution»

The development of biology led to the emergence of an evolutionary methodological concept at a certain stage. The origin of evolutionary ideas and their development became the preparatory stage for the formation of the organic world evolution theory. The theory of natural selection, formulated by Charles Darwin, led to the emergence of Darwinism, which became the basis of the synthetic theory of evolution. On this basis, there is a need for methodologically competent and scientifically grounded study of natural selection in secondary and higher school. The purpose of the article is to analyze the selection of content and the development of methods for studying the topic “Natural selection” in the course of secondary and higher education. Natural selection as an independent factor is described in textbooks published in our country and abroad. Comparison of the information presented in various publications suggests that the works of foreign scientists pay more attention to the role of genetic processes and the mathematical processing of data obtained from the study of natural selection. In this context, the selection of content and the development of methods for studying the topic "Natural selection" in the course of secondary and higher education seem rather relevant. The methodological basis of the study includes taking into account general trends in the development of evolutionary biology. It is also recognized that the developed evolutionary ideas have got the status of system-forming regulators. From the point of view of the authors, the content of the course, regarding the study of natural selection, should be based on the idea of this factor, which is recognized in the synthetic theory of evolution. The study of the material should be accompanied by examples, the use of visual aids and laboratory work. The role of selection in evolution should be described in relation to the stabilizing, driving, as well as in relation to particular variants of the manifestation of the natural selection action. The article includes information of theoretical and practical significance. The theoretical significance is related to the description of the methodology for studying the topic “Natural Selection”. From a practical point of view, the article contains methodological recommendations, the use of which will allow the students to ensure high-quality learning of the material.