Research has indicated teachers feel they could be more effective in teaching evolution if they had more access to contemporary evolution information, time to safely reflect on the teaching of the topic with peers, and effective lesson plan ideas for teaching evolution and the obstacles that arise. Recent science educational reform efforts for adolescents have attempted to engage students in science by utilizing project-based instruction. The features of project-based learning (PBL) are consistent with the learning needs of many types of students and hold promise as an effective tool for teaching complex topics such as evolution. The development of this unit on evolution was part of a larger effort to increase the level of behavioral, emotional, and cognitive engagement in science using a PBL approach. This article presents a project-based evolution unit which aims to help teachers improve students' understanding of evolution through a relevant, application-based approach. Developed collaboratively by a high school teacher and university researcher, this PBL unit encompasses hands-on and technology-based inquiry activities that guide students through an explorative modern-day application of evolutionary theory. (Contains 2 figures.)