Evolution Site - Teaching About Evolution
Despite the best efforts of biology educators, there are still a lot of misconceptions about evolution. Pop science fiction has led a lot of people to believe that biologists don't believe evolution.
This site, a companion to the PBS program, provides teachers with materials which support evolution education while avoiding the types of misconceptions that can make it difficult to understand. It's organized in a nested "bread crumb" format to make it easy for navigation and orientation.
Definitions
Evolution is a complicated and difficult subject matter to teach well. It is often misunderstood by non-scientists, and even scientists use a definition that confuses the issue. This is particularly applicable to discussions about the meaning of the word itself.
It is essential to define terms that are used in evolutionary biology. Understanding Evolution's website does this in a simple and efficient way. The site is a companion site to the show which first aired in 2001, but can also function as an independent resource. The material is presented in a way that assists in navigation and orientation.
The site defines terms like common ancestor (or common ancestor), gradual process and adaptation. These terms help define the nature and relationship of evolution to other scientific concepts. 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 engendered by the creationists.
You can also consult a glossary that contains 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. This is due to natural selection. It 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. By analyzing 에볼루션카지노사이트 from 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 contained in nucleotides arranged in sequences that are strung together into long chains, referred to as chromosomes. Mutations are the basis for new genetic information in cells.
Coevolution is a relationship between two species, where the evolution of one species are influenced evolutionary changes in the other. Coevolution can be seen through the interaction between predator and prey, or parasite and hosts.
Origins
Species (groups of individuals that are able to interbreed) change through an array of natural changes in the traits of their offspring. These changes can be caused by many factors, such as natural selection, gene drift and mixing of the gene pool. The development of a new species may take thousands of years and the process could be slowed down or speeded up due to environmental conditions, such as climate change or competition for food or habitat.
The Evolution site tracks the evolution of a number of different animal and plant groups through time and focuses on the most significant changes that took place in each group's history. It also examines the evolution of humans and is a subject that is of particular interest to students.
When Darwin wrote the Origin of Species, only a handful of antediluvian human fossils had been discovered. The famous skullcap, along with the bones associated with it, 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, which was one year after the first edition of the Origin appeared, it is extremely unlikely that Darwin had heard or seen of it.
The site is primarily one of biology however it also includes many details on geology and paleontology. The website has a number of features that are particularly impressive, such as the timeline of how climate and geological conditions have changed over time. It also features maps that show the locations of fossil groups.
The site is a companion to a PBS TV series but it could be used as a 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 support) and the more specific features of the museum website. These hyperlinks help users move from the enthralling 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 of ecology in evolutionary theory.
Diversity
The evolution of life on Earth has resulted in a variety of plants, animals, and insects. Paleobiology, the study of these creatures in their geological context is a superior method of study over the current observational or experimental methods of studying evolutionary processes. Paleobiology is able to study not only the process and events that occur frequently or over time, but also the distribution and frequency of different species of animals across geological time.
The website is divided into several paths that can be chosen to study the subject of evolution. One of the paths, "Evolution 101," guides the user through the nature and evidence of evolution. The path also explores misconceptions about evolution, and the background of evolutionary thinking.
Each of the main sections on the Evolution website is equally well-designed, with materials that are suited to a variety of levels of curriculum and teaching methods. The site offers a wide array of multimedia and interactive resources which include animations, video clips and virtual laboratories in addition to general textual content. The content is presented in a nested bread crumb-like fashion that helps with navigation and orientation on the web site.
For instance, the page "Coral Reef Connections" provides an overview of coral relationships and their interactions with other organisms. Then, it concentrates on a specific clam that can communicate with its neighbours and respond to changes in water conditions that take place at the reef level. This page, along with the other multidisciplinary multimedia and interactive pages, offers a great introduction to many 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 change.
Evolutionary Theory
For biology students the concept of evolution is a major thread that connects all the branches of the field. A rich collection of resources helps teachers teach about evolution across all life sciences.
One resource, which is a companion to the PBS television series Understanding Evolution, is an outstanding example of an Web site that provides the depth and breadth of its educational resources. The site features a wealth of interactive learning modules. It also has an "bread crumb structure" that helps students move away from the cartoon style of Understanding Evolution and onto elements of this vast website that are closely linked to the worlds of research science. An animation that introduces the concept of genetics is linked to a page about John Endler's experiments in artificial selection using guppies on native ponds in Trinidad.
The Evolution Library on this website has a huge multimedia library of assets related to evolution. The content is organized into the form of curriculum-based pathways that are in line with the learning goals set forth in biology standards. It includes seven short videos designed specifically for classroom use, which can be streamed for no cost or purchased on DVD.
A number of important questions remain in the midst of evolutionary biology, including what causes evolution to occur and how fast it occurs. This is particularly relevant for the evolution of humans, where it was difficult to reconcile religious beliefs that held that humanity has a unique position in the universe and a soul with the notion that our physical traits were derived from Apes.
Additionally there are a myriad of ways in which evolution could be triggered and natural selection is the most popular theory. Scientists also study different types such as mutation, genetic drift, and sexual selection.
While many scientific fields of study have a conflict with literal interpretations found in religious texts, evolution biology has been the subject of intense controversy and opposition from religious fundamentalists. Certain religions have embraced their beliefs with evolution, while others haven't.