Evolution Site - Teaching About Evolution
Despite the best efforts of biology educators, misconceptions about evolution remain. People who have absorbed popular science myths often assume that biologists don't believe in evolution.
This site, which is a companion to the PBS program that provides teachers with resources that promote evolution education while avoiding the types of misconceptions which hinder it. It's laid out in a "bread crumb" format to aid in navigation and orientation.
Definitions
Evolution is a complicated and difficult subject matter to teach effectively. People who are not scientists often have a difficult time understanding the subject, and some scientists even employ a definition that confuses it. This is especially true when discussing the definition of the words.
As such, it is crucial to define the terms that are used in evolutionary biology. The website for the PBS show, Understanding Evolution, does this in a clear and helpful manner. It is an accompaniment to the 2001 series, and also a resource on its own. The content is presented in a nested fashion that assists in navigation and orientation.
The site defines terms like common ancestor, gradual process and so on. These terms help to frame the nature of evolution and its relation to other scientific concepts. The website provides a summary of the ways the concept of evolution has been tested. This information can help dispel myths that are created by the creationists.
You can also access a glossary that includes terms used in evolutionary biology. These terms include:
Adaptation is the tendency of heritable traits to be more suited to the environment. This is the result of natural selection. Organisms with more adaptable traits are more likely than those with less-adapted characteristics to survive and reproduce.
Common ancestor (also known as common ancestor) is the most recent ancestral ancestor shared by two or more species. By analyzing DNA from these species, it is possible to determine the common ancestor.
Deoxyribonucleic acid: A large biological molecule that holds the information required for cell replication. The information is stored in nucleotide sequences that are strung into long chains, referred to as chromosomes. Mutations are the source of new genetic information in cells.
Coevolution is a relationship between two species, where the evolution of one species are influenced by evolutionary changes of the other. Coevolution can be seen through the interaction between predator and prey, or parasite and hosts.
Origins
Species (groups of individuals that can interbreed) change through natural changes in the traits of their offspring. The changes can be caused by a variety of factors such as natural selection, genetic drift, and gene pool mixing. The evolution of a new species can take thousands of years, and the process may be slowed down or speeded up by environmental conditions such as climate change or the competition for food or habitat.
The Evolution site tracks through time the evolution of different species of plants and animals with a focus on major changes in each group's history. It also explores human evolution as a subject of particular importance for students.
When Darwin wrote the Origin in 1859, only a handful of antediluvian human fossils had been found. The most famous among them was the skullcap and associated bones found in 1856 at the Little Feldhofer Grotto in Germany which is now believed as an early Homo neanderthalensis. While the skullcap wasn't published until 1858, one year after the first edition of the Origin was published, it is very unlikely that Darwin had seen or heard of it.
The site is primarily one of biology however it also includes a lot of information on paleontology and geology. Among the best features of the Web site are a timeline of events that illustrate how geological and climatic conditions changed over time, as well as an outline of the geographical distribution of some of the fossil groups featured on the site.
While the site is a companion piece to the PBS television show however, it can stand on its own as an excellent source for teachers and students. The site is well-organized and provides clear links to the introductory material of Understanding Evolution (developed under the National Science Foundation's assistance) and the more specific features on the museum's website. These hyperlinks facilitate the move from the engaging cartoon style of the Understanding Evolution pages to the more sophisticated world of research science. There are links to John Endler’s experiments with guppies that illustrate the importance ecology in evolutionary theory.
Diversity
The evolution of life has led to many species of animals, plants and insects. Paleobiology is the study of these creatures within their natural environment is a superior method of study over modern observational or research methods for exploring evolutionary phenomena. Paleobiology can examine not only processes and events that happen regularly or over time but also the distribution and frequency of various animal groups in space over the course of the geological time.
The site is divided up into several options to study the subject of evolution. 에볼루션 룰렛 of the paths, "Evolution 101," takes the viewer through the evolution of nature and the evidence of evolution. The path also explores misconceptions about 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 curriculum levels and teaching styles. In addition to the general textual content, the site offers a wide range of multimedia and interactive content including videos, animations, and virtual labs. The content is organized in a nested, bread crumb style that facilitates navigation and orientation within the large Web site.
For instance the page "Coral Reef Connections" provides a comprehensive overview of the relationships between corals and their interactions with other organisms. Then, it concentrates on a specific clam that is able to communicate with its neighbours and respond to changes in water conditions that take place at the level of the reef. This page, along with the other multidisciplinary multimedia and interactive pages, offers a great introduction to a variety of topics in evolutionary biology. The material also provides a discussion of the role of natural selection and the concept of phylogenetic analysis, which is an important tool for understanding the evolution of changes.
Evolutionary Theory
Evolution is an underlying thread that runs through all branches of biology. A wide range of resources can help teachers teach about evolution across the life sciences.
One resource, which is the companion to PBS's television series Understanding Evolution is an excellent example of a Web page that provides the depth and the broadness in terms of educational resources. The site has a wide array of interactive learning modules. It also features a nested "bread crumb" structure that helps students transition from the cartoon style of Understanding Evolution to elements on this massive website that are closer to the field of research science. For instance an animation that introduces the notion of genetic inheritance leads to a page that highlights John Endler's experiments in artificial selection using guppies in the ponds of his native country of Trinidad.
The Evolution Library on this website has a huge multimedia library of materials that deal with evolution. The content is organized in curriculum-based pathways that correspond to the learning objectives set out in the standards for biology. It contains seven videos designed specifically for use in classrooms, and can be streamed for free or purchased on DVD.
Evolutionary biology is still a field of study that poses many important questions, such as the causes of evolution and how quickly it occurs. This is particularly true for human evolution, where it's been difficult to reconcile the idea that the physical characteristics of humans were derived from apes and religious beliefs that hold that humanity is unique among living things and holds a a special place in creation, with soul.
There are a myriad of other ways evolution can occur including natural selection, which is the most widely accepted theory. Scientists also study other types like mutation, genetic drift, and sexual selection.
Although many scientific fields of study have a conflict with literal interpretations found in religious texts, evolution biology has been a source of intense debate and opposition from religious fundamentalists. While certain religions have been able to reconcile their beliefs with the notions of evolution, other religions aren't.