Evolution Site - Teaching About Evolution Despite the best efforts of biology teachers, misinformation about evolution remain. People who have taken in pop science nonsense often assume that biologists are saying they don't believe in evolution. This site, which is a companion to the PBS series - provides teachers with materials that promote evolution education and avoid the kinds of misconceptions that make it difficult to understand. It's organized in a nested "bread crumb" format to facilitate navigation and orientation. Definitions It's difficult to teach evolution well. Many non-scientists are unable to grasp the concept, and some scientists even use a definition that confuses it. This is particularly applicable to debates about the definition of the word itself. It is therefore essential to define the terms that are used in evolutionary biology. The website for the PBS show, Understanding Evolution, does this in a clear and useful way. The site is both a companion for the 2001 series, and also a resource on its own. The content is presented in a nested fashion that aids navigation and orientation. The site defines terms such as common ancestor, the gradual process and adaptation. These terms help to frame the nature of evolution and its relationship to other concepts in science. The site gives a comprehensive overview of the ways the concept of evolution has been tested. This information can be used to dispel the myths that have been created by creationists. It is also possible to find a glossary of terms that are used in evolutionary biology. These terms include: Adaptation is the process of changing heritable traits to become more suitable to their environment. This is due to natural selection, which occurs when organisms with better adapted traits are more likely to survive and reproduce than those with less adaptable traits. ???? ?? ??? : The most recent common ancestor of two or more species. By studying the DNA of these species it is possible to identify the common ancestor. Deoxyribonucleic acid: A large biological molecule that holds the information necessary for cell replication. The information is stored in nucleotide sequences, which are strung into long chains called chromosomes. Mutations are responsible for the creation of new genetic information inside cells. Coevolution: A relationship between two species where evolutionary changes in one species are affected by changes in evolutionary processes in the other. Coevolution is evident in the interactions between predator and prey, or parasite and hosts. Origins Species (groups of individuals who can interbreed) change through an array of natural changes in the traits of their offspring. The changes can be triggered by a variety that include natural selection, genetic drift and mixing of gene pools. The development of a new species can take thousands of years and the process may be slowed or increased due to environmental conditions, such as climate change or the competition for food or habitat. The Evolution site tracks the evolution of a number of different groups of animals and plants over time with a focus on the key transitions that occurred in the history of each group. It also explores human evolution, which is a topic of particular importance for students. Darwin's Origin was written in 1859, when just a handful of antediluvian fossils of human beings had been discovered. Among them was the famous skullcap and associated bones found in 1856 at the Little Feldhofer Grotto in Germany, which is now known to be an early Homo neanderthalensis. While the skullcap wasn't published until 1858, which was one year after the first edition of the Origin appeared, it is highly unlikely that Darwin had seen or heard of it. While the site focuses on biology, it also includes a good deal of information about geology as well as paleontology. The site offers several aspects that are quite impressive, such as a timeline of the way that climate and geological conditions have changed over the course of time. It also includes maps that show the locations of fossil groups. The site is a companion for the PBS TV series but it could also be used as an educational resource for teachers and students. The site is well-organized and provides clear links to the introductory content of Understanding Evolution (developed under the National Science Foundation's support) and the more specialized features of the museum's website. These hyperlinks make it easy to transition from the cartoon style of Understanding Evolution pages into the more sophisticated worlds of research science. In particular there are hyperlinks to John Endler's experiments with guppies that illustrate the importance of ecology in evolutionary theory. Diversity The evolution of life has produced many species of animals, plants and insects. Paleobiology is the study of these creatures within their geological context and has many advantages over modern observational and experimental methods in its exploration of evolutionary phenomena. Paleobiology focuses on 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 throughout the geological time. The site is divided into various routes that can be taken to gain knowledge about evolution. One of these paths, "Evolution 101," walks the reader through the complexities and evidence of evolution. The path also reveals common misconceptions about evolution and the history of evolutionary thought. Each of the other main sections of the Evolution site is equally well constructed, with materials that support a variety of curriculum levels and pedagogical styles. The site has a range of interactive and multimedia content, including video clips, animations and virtual laboratories as well as general textual content. The content is organized in a nested, bread crumb fashion that aids navigation and orientation within the vast Web site. For example the page "Coral Reef Connections" provides a comprehensive overview of the relationships between corals and their interaction with other organisms. Then, it narrows down to a single clam that is able to communicate with its neighbours and respond to changes in the water conditions that occur at the level of the reef. This page, along with the other multidisciplinary, multimedia, and interactive pages on the site, offer an excellent introduction to a wide spectrum of topics in evolutionary biology. ??????? includes an overview of the importance of natural selection and the concept of phylogenetics analysis as a key method for understanding the evolution of change. Evolutionary Theory Evolution is an underlying thread that is found throughout all branches of biology. A vast collection of books helps in teaching evolution across the life science disciplines. One resource, a companion to the PBS television series Understanding Evolution, is an exceptional example of an Web site that offers both depth and breadth in its educational resources. The site has a variety of interactive learning modules. It also has an "bread crumb structure" that allows students to move away from the cartoon style of Understanding Evolution and onto elements on this site that are more closely linked to the fields of research science. For example an animation that explains the notion of genetic inheritance leads to a page highlighting John Endler's artificial selection experiments using guppies in the ponds of his native country of Trinidad. The Evolution Library on this website has a huge multimedia library of resources that are associated with evolution. The content is organized according to curricula-based pathways that correspond to the learning goals established in biology standards. It contains seven short videos specifically intended for use in the classroom. They can be viewed online or purchased as DVDs. Evolutionary biology is an area of study with a lot of important questions, such as the causes of evolution and the speed at which it happens. This is especially true for human evolution, where it's been difficult to reconcile the notion that the physical characteristics of humans evolved from apes, and the religious beliefs that hold that humans are unique in the universe and has a special place in creation. It is a soul. There are also a number of other ways evolution can occur and natural selection being the most well-known theory. However scientists also study other kinds of evolution, such as genetic drift, mutation, and sexual selection, among other things. While many scientific fields of inquiry have a conflict with the literal interpretations of religious texts evolutionary biology has been the subject of particularly controversial debate and resistance from religious fundamentalists. Certain religions have reconciled their beliefs to evolution while others haven't.
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