Evolution Site - Teaching About Evolution
Despite the best efforts of biology educators, there are still a lot of misconceptions regarding evolution. Pop science nonsense has led many people to think that biologists don't believe in evolution.
This site, which is a complement to the PBS program that provides teachers with resources that support the evolution of education while avoiding the types of misconceptions that hinder it. It's laid out in a "bread crumb" format to facilitate navigation and orientation.
Definitions
Evolution is a complicated and difficult subject matter to teach well. Many non-scientists are unable to grasp the concept, and some scientists even use a definition which confuses it. This is particularly relevant when it comes to the definition of the words.
It is therefore important to define the terms that are used in evolutionary biology. Understanding Evolution's website does this in a simple and efficient way. The site is a companion to the show that premiered in 2001, but it also functions as an independent resource. The material is presented in a nested fashion that assists in navigation and orientation.
The site defines terms such as common ancestor and gradual process. These terms help to frame the nature of evolution as well as its relation to other concepts in science. The website then provides an overview of how the concept of evolution has been vetted and validated. This information will help to dispel the myths that are created by the creationists.
It is also possible to find a glossary of terms used in evolutionary biology. These terms include:
The process of adaptation is the tendency of hereditary traits to become more suited to the environment. talks about it is due to natural selection, which occurs when organisms with better adapted traits are more likely survive and reproduce than those with less adaptable traits.
Common ancestor (also known as common ancestor) is the most recent ancestor shared by two or more species. The common ancestor can be identified by analyzing the DNA of these species.
Deoxyribonucleic acid: A large biological molecule that contains the information necessary for cell replication. The information is stored in nucleotide sequences that are strung into long chains known as chromosomes. Mutations are the reason behind the creation of new genetic information inside cells.
Coevolution is a relation between two species where evolutionary changes of one species influence evolutionary changes of the other. Coevolution is evident through the interaction between predator and prey, or parasites and hosts.
Origins
Species (groups that can interbreed) develop through a series natural changes in the traits of their offspring. Changes can be caused by various factors, including natural selection, gene drift, and mixing of the gene pool. The evolution of a new species could take thousands of years, and the process may be slowed down or accelerated by environmental factors like climate change or the competition for food or habitat.
The Evolution site traces through time the emergence of various animal and plant groups and focuses on major changes within each group's past. It also focuses on human evolution, which is a topic that is particularly important for students.
When Darwin wrote the Origin of Species, only a handful of antediluvian human fossils had been discovered. The famous skullcap, with the associated bones, was discovered in 1856 in the Little Feldhofer Grotto of Germany. It is now known as an early Homo neanderthalensis. It is unlikely that Darwin was aware of the skullcap, which was published in 1858, one year following the initial edition of The Origin. Origin.
The site is primarily an online biology resource, but it also contains lots of information about paleontology and geology. One of the most appealing features on the site are a timeline of events which show the way in which climatic and geological conditions changed over time, as well as an interactive map of the distribution of some fossil groups listed on the site.
While the site is a companion to a PBS television show, it also stands on its own as a great source for teachers and students. The site is well-organized and offers clear links between the introduction information in Understanding Evolution (developed with support from the National Science Foundation) and the more sophisticated elements of the museum's web site. These hyperlinks make it easy to move from the cartoon style of Understanding Evolution pages into the more sophisticated realms of research science. There are links to John Endler's experiments with guppies, which demonstrate the importance of ecology in evolutionary theory.
Diversity
The evolution of life on Earth has led to a wide variety of animals, plants and insects. Paleobiology is the study of these creatures within their geological context and has a number of advantages over the modern observational and research methods for analyzing evolutionary processes. In addition to exploring processes and events that occur regularly or over a lengthy period of time, paleobiology is able to analyze the diversity of kinds of organisms as well as their distribution throughout geological time.
The website is divided into different routes that can be taken to gain knowledge about evolution. One of the paths, "Evolution 101," takes the viewer through the nature and evidence of evolution. The course also focuses on common misconceptions about evolution and the history of evolutionary thought.
Each of the other sections of the Evolution site is equally developed, with materials that support a variety of educational levels and pedagogical styles. In addition to the general textual content, the site offers a wide range of interactive and multimedia resources including videos, animations and virtual laboratories. The breadcrumb-like structure of the content aids in navigation and orientation on the vast Web site.
For instance, the page "Coral Reef Connections" gives a brief overview of coral relationships and their interaction with other organisms. It then concentrates on a specific clam that can communicate with its neighbors and react to changes in water conditions at the level of the reef. This page, along with the other multidisciplinary interactive and multimedia pages, offers a great introduction to the many areas of evolutionary biology. The content includes a discussion on the importance of natural selection and the concept of phylogenetics which is a crucial tool for understanding evolutionary change.
Evolutionary Theory
For biology students, evolution is a key thread that connects all branches of the field. A rich collection of resources helps teachers teach about evolution across the life sciences.
One resource, which is a companion to the PBS television series Understanding Evolution, is an excellent example of an Web site that provides depth and breadth in its educational resources. The site offers a range of interactive learning modules. It also features a "bread crumb structure" that helps students move away from the cartoon-like style used in Understanding Evolution and onto elements on this site that are more closely related to the fields of research science. For instance an animation that introduces the notion of genetic inheritance leads to a page that highlights John Endler's experiments with artificial selection with guppies from the native ponds of Trinidad.
Another helpful resource is the Evolution Library on this Web site, which has an extensive library of multimedia items connected to evolution. The content is organized according to curricula-based paths that correspond to the learning objectives set out in the standards for biology. It includes seven short videos designed for classroom use. They can be viewed online or purchased as DVDs.
Evolutionary biology is an area of study that poses many important questions, including what causes evolution and the speed at which it takes place. This is particularly relevant to human evolution, where it's been difficult to reconcile that the physical characteristics of humans evolved from apes with religions that believe that humanity is unique among living things and has a special place in creation with soul.
There are also a number of other ways in which evolution could occur including natural selection, which is the most well-known theory. However, scientists also study other types of evolution such as genetic drift, mutation, and sexual selection, among others.
While many fields of scientific inquiry have a conflict with literal interpretations of the Bible, evolutionary biology has been the subject of particularly controversial debate and resistance from religious fundamentalists. While certain religions have been able to reconcile their beliefs with the theories of evolution, others haven't.