Evolution Site - Teaching About Evolution
Despite the best efforts of biology educators, misconceptions about evolution persist. People who have absorbed the nonsense of pop science often believe that biologists are saying they do not believe in evolution.
This site, which is a companion to the PBS series It provides teachers with materials that support evolution education and avoids the kinds of misconceptions that make it difficult to understand. It's arranged in a nested "bread crumb" format to make it easy for navigation and orientation.
Definitions
It is difficult to effectively teach evolution. Non-scientists often misunderstand the subject and some scientists use a definition which confuses it. This is especially relevant when discussing the definition of the words.
It is therefore crucial to define the terms that are used in evolutionary biology. Understanding Evolution's website helps you define these terms in a straightforward and useful way. The website is a companion to the show which first aired in 2001, but also functions as an independent resource. The content is presented in a way that aids navigation and orientation.
The site defines terms such as common ancestor, gradual process and so on. These terms help to define the nature of evolution and its relation to other concepts in science. The website then provides an overview of how the concept of evolution has been researched and verified. This information can be used to dispel the myths that have been created by creationists.
It is also possible to get a glossary of terms that are used in evolutionary biology. These terms include:
The process of adaptation is the tendency of hereditary traits to become more suited to the environment. This is a result of natural selection, which occurs when organisms that have better adapted characteristics are more likely to survive and reproduce than those with less adaptable traits.
Common ancestor: The most recent common ancestor of two or more distinct species. By analyzing the DNA from these species it is possible to identify the common ancestor.
Deoxyribonucleic Acid: A huge biological molecular that contains the information required for cell replication. The information is contained in a sequence of nucleotides that are strung together into long chains, also known as chromosomes. Mutations are the cause of new genetic information within cells.
Coevolution: A relationship between two species where evolutionary changes in one species are dependent on evolutionary changes in the other. Examples of coevolution are the interactions between predator and prey or parasite and host.
Origins
Species (groups that can crossbreed) change through a series natural changes in the traits of their offspring. These changes are caused by a variety that include natural selection, genetic drift and gene pool mixing. The evolution of new species could take thousands of years. Environmental conditions, like changes in the climate or competition for food resources and habitat, can slow or accelerate the process.
The Evolution site tracks the development of a number of different animal and plant groups through time with a focus on the key transitions that occurred in the history of each group. It also examines the evolution of humans as a subject that is particularly important for students.
Darwin's Origin was written in 1859, when only a handful of antediluvian fossils of humans had been found. The skullcap that is famous, along with the associated bones, was discovered in 1856 in the Little Feldhofer Grotto of Germany. It is now known as an early Homo neanderthalensis. Although the skullcap was not published until 1858, one year after the first edition of the Origin was published, it's highly unlikely that Darwin had heard or seen of it.
While the site focuses on biology, it contains a wealth of information on geology and paleontology. The website has a number of aspects that are quite impressive, including a timeline of the way that climate and geological conditions have changed over the course of time. It also includes an interactive map that shows the location of fossil groups.
The site is a companion for the PBS television series, but it can be used as a source for teachers and students. The site is extremely well organized and provides clear links between the introduction content in Understanding Evolution (developed with support from the National Science Foundation) and the more sophisticated components of the museum's Web site. These hyperlinks facilitate the move from the cartoon-like style of the Understanding Evolution pages to the more sophisticated world of research science. There are links to John Endler’s experiments with guppies, which illustrate the importance of ecology in evolutionary theory.
Diversity
The evolution of life has produced an array of plants, animals 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 in its exploration of evolutionary phenomena. Paleobiology is able to study not only the process and events that occur regularly or over time, but also the relative abundance and distribution of different groups of animals in space over the course of the geological time.
The site is divided into several optional paths to learning evolution, including "Evolution 101," which takes the viewer on a liner path through the science of nature and the evidence supporting the theory of evolution. The path also examines myths about evolution and the background of evolutionary thinking.
Each of the other major sections of the Evolution site is similarly created, with resources that support a variety of educational levels and pedagogical styles. In addition to the standard textual content, the site offers an extensive selection of multimedia and interactive resources including videos, animations and virtual labs. The content is laid out in a nested bread crumb style that facilitates navigation and orientation within the vast Web site.
For sneak a peek at this web-site. , the page "Coral Reef Connections" provides a comprehensive overview of coral relationships and their interactions with other organisms. It then zooms in on a single clam that can communicate with its neighbours and respond to changes in the water conditions that take place at the level of the reef. This page, along with the other multidisciplinary interactive and multimedia pages gives a good introduction to a variety of topics in evolutionary biology. The material includes a discussion on the importance of natural selection and the concept of phylogenetics which is a crucial method for understanding the evolution of changes.
Evolutionary Theory
For biology students the concept of evolution is a major thread that connects all branches of the field. A wide range of resources supports teaching about evolution across all life sciences.
One resource, which is a companion to the PBS television series Understanding Evolution, is an exceptional example of a Web site that provides the depth and breadth of its educational resources. The site features a wide range of interactive learning modules. It also features a "bread crumb structure" that assists students in moving away from the cartoon style that is used in Understanding Evolution and onto elements on this large website more closely connected to the fields of research science. An animation that introduces the concept of genetics links to a page that highlights John Endler's experiments in artificial selection using guppies on native ponds in Trinidad.
Another helpful resource is the Evolution Library on this Web website, which includes an extensive library of multimedia items connected to evolution. The content is organized according to curricula-based paths that correspond to the learning goals set forth in biology standards. It contains seven videos designed specifically for use in classrooms, and can be streamed for free or purchased on DVD.
Many important questions remain at the heart of evolutionary biology, such as what causes evolution to occur and the speed at which it occurs. This is particularly relevant in the case of human evolution where it was a challenge to reconcile religious beliefs that held that humanity has a unique place in the creation and a soul, with the idea that innate physical traits evolved from the apes.
There are also a number of other ways evolution can take place including natural selection, which is the most widely accepted theory. Scientists also study different types such as genetic drift, and sexual selection.
Although many scientific fields of study are in conflict with the literal interpretations of religious texts, the concept of evolution biology has been the subject of intense debate and opposition from religious fundamentalists. Some religions have reconciled their beliefs to evolution but others haven't.