Evolution Site - Teaching About Evolution
Despite the best efforts of biology teachers, there are still misconceptions regarding evolution. Pop science nonsense has led many people to believe that biologists don't believe evolution.
This site, which is a companion to the PBS program, provides teachers with materials that promote evolution education while avoiding the types of misconceptions that can make it difficult to understand. It's laid out in a nested "bread crumb" format to make it easy for navigation and orientation.
Definitions
It's difficult to properly teach evolution. Many non-scientists are unable to grasp the concept, and some scientists even employ a definition that confuses it. This is particularly relevant to debates about the meaning of the word itself.
As such, it is crucial to define the terms used in evolutionary biology. Understanding Evolution's website does this in a simple and efficient manner. The site is a companion site to the show which first aired in 2001, but is also an independent resource. The information is presented in a structured manner that makes it easier to navigate and understand.
The site defines terms such as common ancestor, gradual process, and adaptation. These terms help to define the nature and significance of evolution with other scientific concepts. The website provides a summary of the way that evolution has been examined. This information can be used to dispel misconceptions that have been created by the creationists.
It is also possible to access a glossary of terms that are used in evolutionary biology. These terms include:
Adaptation is the process of changing hereditary traits to become better suited to an environment. This is the result of natural selection. Organisms that have better-adapted traits are more likely than those with less adapted traits to reproduce and survive.
Common ancestor (also called common ancestor) is the most recent ancestral ancestor shared by two or more species. By analyzing the DNA from these species, it is possible to identify the common ancestor.
Deoxyribonucleic acid: A huge biological molecule that holds the information needed for cell replication. The information is stored in nucleotide sequences that are strung into long chains, referred to as chromosomes. Mutations are the reason behind the creation of new genetic information inside cells.
Coevolution is a relationship between two species where evolution of one species influence evolutionary changes of the other. Examples of coevolution include the interactions between predator and prey, or host and parasite.
Origins
Species (groups which can interbreed) change through a series of natural changes in the traits of their offspring. The changes can be caused by a variety such as natural selection, genetic drift, and mixing of gene pools. The evolution of a new species can take thousands of years, and the process could be slowed down or accelerated by environmental conditions such as climate change or competition for food or habitat.
The Evolution site tracks the development of various species of plants and animals over time, focusing on the major changes that took place in the history of each group. It also examines the evolutionary history of humans, a topic that is particularly important for students to understand.
When Darwin wrote the Origin, only a handful of antediluvian human fossils had been discovered. Among them was the famous skullcap and the associated bones discovered in 1856 in the Little Feldhofer Grotto in Germany that is now thought to be an early Homo neanderthalensis. It is highly unlikely that Darwin was aware of the skullcap, which was published in 1858, one year after the publication of the first edition of The Origin. Origin.
The site is primarily one of biology however, it also has lots of information about geology and paleontology. The Web site has several features that are particularly impressive, such as an overview of the way that climate and geological conditions have changed over the course of time. It also features an interactive map that shows the location of fossil groups.
Although the site is a companion to a PBS television series however, it can stand Evolutionkr.Kr on its own as a valuable 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 links make it easier to move from the cartoon-style Understanding Evolution pages into the more sophisticated worlds of research science. Particularly there are links to John Endler's experiments using guppies that illustrate the importance of ecology in evolutionary theory.
Diversity
The evolution of life has produced many species of plants, animals and insects. Paleobiology is the study of these creatures within their geographical context and offers a number of advantages over the modern observational and research methods for analyzing evolutionary phenomena. Paleobiology is able to study not only the process and events that happen regularly or over time but also the distribution and frequency of different species of animals in space throughout geological time.
The site is divided into a variety of ways to learn about evolution that include "Evolution 101," which takes the viewer on a liner path through the nature of science and the evidence that supports the theory of evolution. The path also examines myths about evolution and the background of evolutionary thought.
Each of the other sections of the Evolution site is equally well created, with resources that can be used to support a range of curriculum levels and pedagogical styles. In addition to the general textual content, the site offers an extensive selection of interactive and multimedia resources including video clips, animations, and virtual labs. The content is organized in a nested, bread crumb-like fashion that helps with navigation and orientation on the Web site.
The page "Coral Reef Connections" For instance, it gives a brief overview of the relationships between corals and interactions with other organisms and then is enlarged to show a single clam, which is able to communicate with its neighbours and respond to changes in the water conditions that occur on the reef level. This page, as well as the other multidisciplinary, multimedia and interactive pages on the website, provide an excellent introduction to a wide spectrum of topics in evolutionary biology. The content includes an overview of the significance of natural selectivity and the concept of phylogenetics analysis as a key method for understanding the evolution of change.
Evolutionary Theory
For biology students evolution is a crucial thread that weaves together all the branches of the field. A wide selection of resources helps teachers teach evolution across the life science disciplines.
One resource, a companion to the PBS television series Understanding Evolution, is an outstanding example of a Web site that offers both depth and breadth in its educational resources. The site has a wide array of interactive learning modules. It also has an encased "bread crumb" structure that helps students move from the cartoon-like style of Understanding Evolution to elements on this massive website that are more closely tied to the world of research science. For instance, an animation introducing the idea of genetic inheritance connects to a page that focuses on 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 to evolution. The content is organized according to curriculum-based paths that parallel the learning objectives outlined in the biology standards. It contains seven short videos designed for classroom use. They can be viewed online or purchased as DVDs.
Evolutionary biology is an area of study that has many important questions, such as the causes of evolution and how quickly it takes place. This is especially applicable to human evolution where it's been difficult to reconcile that the physical traits of humans evolved from apes and religious beliefs that claim that humanity is unique among living things and holds a an enviable place in creation. It is soul.
In addition there are a myriad of ways that evolution could be triggered and natural selection is the most widely accepted theory. Scientists also study different types like mutation, genetic drift, and sexual selection.
Although many scientific fields of study conflict with literal interpretations in religious texts, the concept of evolution biology has been the subject of intense controversy and opposition from religious fundamentalists. While some religions have been able to reconcile their beliefs with the ideas of evolution, other religions have not.