Evolution Site - Teaching About Evolution
Despite the best efforts of biology educators, misinformation about evolution remain. People who have been exposed to pop science nonsense often assume that biologists are saying they don't believe in evolution.
This site, which is a complement to the PBS program that provides teachers with resources which support evolution education, while avoiding the kinds of misconceptions which hinder it. It's laid out in a nested "bread crumb" format to facilitate navigation and orientation.
Definitions
Evolution is a complicated and difficult subject matter to teach well. It is often misunderstood by non-scientists, and even some scientists have been guilty of using definitions that confuse the issue. This is especially relevant when discussing the meaning of the words themselves.
It is essential to define terms that are used in evolutionary biology. The website for the PBS show, Understanding Evolution, does this in a clear and useful manner. The site is both a companion for the 2001 series, but also a resource on its own. The content is presented in a way which aids navigation and orientation.
The site defines terms such as common ancestor and gradual process. These terms help to define the nature and relationship of evolution to other concepts in science. The website provides a summary of the ways that evolution has been tested. This information will help to dispel the myths that are created by the creationists.
It is also possible to find a glossary of terms that are used in evolutionary biology. These terms include:
Adaptation: The tendency for heritable traits to become better suited to a particular environment. This is due to natural selection. It occurs when organisms that are better adapted traits are more likely to survive and reproduce than those with less adapted traits.
Common ancestor (also known as common ancestor) The most recent ancestral ancestor shared by two or more species. The common ancestor can be identified by studying the DNA of these species.
Deoxyribonucleic acid: A huge biological molecule that holds the information needed for cell replication. The information is stored in nucleotide sequences, which are strung into long chains called chromosomes. Mutations are the source of new genetic information in cells.
Coevolution is the relationship between two species where evolutionary changes of one species are influenced evolutionary changes in the other. Coevolution is evident in the interactions between predator and prey, or parasites and hosts.
original site (groups that can crossbreed) change through a series natural changes in the traits of their offspring. These changes are caused by a variety of causes such as natural selection, genetic drift and mixing of genes. The evolution of new species can take thousands of years. Environmental conditions, like climate change or competition for food or habitat, can slow or accelerate the process.
The Evolution site tracks the evolution of various animal and plant groups through time and focuses on the most significant shifts that occurred throughout each group's history. It also explores the human evolutionary roots and humans, a subject that is crucial for students to know.
When Darwin wrote the Origin of Species, only a handful of antediluvian human fossils had been found. The famous skullcap, along with the bones associated with it were discovered in 1856 in the Little Feldhofer Grotto of Germany. It is now regarded as an early Homo neanderthalensis. It is unlikely that Darwin was aware of the skullcap, which was first published in 1858, which was a year following the initial edition of The Origin.
The site is primarily one of biology however it also includes lots of information about paleontology and geology. The website has a number of features that are particularly impressive, including a timeline of how geological and climate conditions have changed over the course of time. It also features an interactive map that shows the location of fossil groups.
While the site is a companion to the PBS television show however, it can stand on its own as a great source for teachers and students. The site is well-organized and provides clear links to the introduction information of Understanding Evolution (developed under the National Science Foundation's support) and the more specific features of the museum's website. These hyperlinks make it easier to transition from the cartoon style of Understanding Evolution pages into the more sophisticated worlds of research science. There are also links to John Endler's experiments with guppies. They illustrate the importance ecology in evolutionary theory.
Diversity
The evolution of life has resulted in many species of animals, plants and insects. Paleobiology is the study of these creatures in their natural environment is a superior method of study over the current observational or experimental methods for studying evolutionary processes. In addition to examining processes and events that take place regularly or over a long period of time, paleobiology can be used to study the relative abundance of different species of organisms and their distribution throughout the geological time.
The site is divided into several options to gain knowledge about evolution. One of the paths, "Evolution 101," walks the reader through the complexities and evidence of evolution. The course also focuses on misconceptions regarding evolution, as well as the history of evolutionary thinking.
Each of the main sections of the Evolution website is equally well-designed, with materials that are suited to a variety of levels of curriculum and teaching methods. In addition to the general textual content, the site also has a wide range of multimedia and interactive content like videos, animations, and virtual laboratories. The content is organized in a nested, bread crumb fashion that aids navigation and orientation within the large Web site.
The page "Coral Reef Connections" For instance, the page "Coral Reef Connections" provides an overview of the relationships between corals and their interactions with other organisms and then zooms in on one clam that is able communicate with its neighbours and respond to changes in the water conditions that occur on the reef level. This page, along with the other multidisciplinary interactive and multimedia pages offers a great introduction to many topics in evolutionary biology. The content also includes an explanation of the role of natural selection and the concept of phylogenetic analysis which is a crucial tool in understanding evolutionary change.
Evolutionary Theory
For biology students evolution is a crucial thread that binds all branches of the field. A wide range of resources supports teaching about evolution across all life sciences.
One resource, which is the companion to PBS's television show Understanding Evolution is an excellent example of an Web page that offers both depth as well as breadth in terms of its educational resources. The site offers a range of interactive learning modules. It also features an encased "bread crumb" structure that helps students move from the cartoon style of Understanding Evolution to elements on this huge site that are closer to the world of research science. For example an animation that introduces the concept of genetic inheritance links to a page that highlights John Endler's experiments with artificial selection with guppies in native ponds of Trinidad.
The Evolution Library on this website is a vast multimedia library of assets related with evolution. The content is organized in curriculum-based pathways that correspond to the learning objectives outlined in the standards for biology. It contains seven videos specifically designed for classroom use, which can be streamed for no cost or purchased on DVD.
Evolutionary biology is still an area of study that poses many important questions, such as what triggers evolution and how fast it takes place. This is particularly relevant for the evolution of humans which was a challenge to reconcile religious beliefs that held that humanity has a unique place in the creation and a soul, with the notion that human beings have innate physical traits originated from Apes.
Additionally there are a myriad of ways in which evolution could occur, with natural selection being the most popular theory. Scientists also study other types such as mutation, genetic drift, and sexual selection.
While many fields of scientific inquiry conflict with the literal interpretations of the Bible Evolutionary biology has been the subject of particularly intense controversy and resistance from religious fundamentalists. Some religions have reconciled their beliefs to evolution while others haven't.