Evolution Site - Teaching About Evolution
Despite the best efforts by biology educators, misconceptions persist about the evolution. People who have absorbed the nonsense of pop science often believe that biologists are saying they don't believe in evolution.
This rich website - companion to the PBS series offers teachers with resources which support evolution education and avoids the kinds of misconceptions that hinder it. It's laid out in a nested "bread crumb" format for ease of navigation and orientation.
Definitions
Evolution is a complicated and challenging subject to teach well. It is often misunderstood by non-scientists and even some scientists use a definition that confuses the issue. This is particularly true when it comes to discussions about the nature of the word.
It is therefore essential to define the terms that are used in evolutionary biology. Understanding Evolution's website provides this in a simple and efficient manner. It is an accompaniment to the 2001 series, and also a resource of its own. The content is presented in a nested manner that aids navigation and orientation.
The site defines terms like common ancestor, the gradual process, and adaptation. These terms help to define the nature of evolution as well as its relationship to other concepts in science. The website provides a summary of the ways that evolution has been tested. This information can be used to dispel the myths that have been engendered by creationists.
You can also access a glossary that includes terms used in evolutionary biology. These terms include:
The process of adaptation is the tendency of hereditary traits to become more suitable to their environment. This is the result of natural selection. Organisms with better-adapted characteristics are more likely than those with less adapted characteristics to survive and reproduce.
Common ancestor: The most recent common ancestor of two or more species. By analyzing DNA from these species, it is possible to identify the common ancestor.
talks about it : A large biological molecule that contains information required for cell replication. The information is stored in nucleotide sequences which are strung into long chains known as chromosomes. Mutations are the cause of new genetic information in cells.
Coevolution is a relationship between two species in which evolutionary changes in one species are dependent on evolutionary changes in the other. Coevolution is evident in the interactions between predator and prey, or parasites and hosts.
Origins
Species (groups of individuals who can interbreed) develop through natural changes in the characteristics of their offspring. The changes can be triggered by a variety of factors, including natural selection, genetic drift, and gene pool mixing. The development of a new species could take thousands of years, and the process can be slowed down or accelerated by environmental factors like climate change or competition for food or habitat.
The Evolution site follows the evolution of various species of plants and animals, focusing on major transitions in each group's past. It also explores human evolution and is a subject that is particularly important for students.
When Darwin wrote the Origin in 1859, only a handful of antediluvian human fossils had been found. The famous skullcap, with the associated bones were 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, just a year before the first edition of the Origin was published, it is very unlikely that Darwin had ever heard of it.
While the site is focused on biology, it also offers a lot of information about geology as well as paleontology. The most impressive features of the Web site are a set of timelines which show how climatic and geological conditions changed over time, and an interactive map of the distribution of some fossil groups listed on the site.
While the site is a companion to the PBS television show however, it can stand on its own as a great resource for teachers and students. The site is extremely well organized and provides clear links between the introductory information in Understanding Evolution (developed with support from the National Science Foundation) and the more specialized elements of the museum Web site. These hyperlinks make it easier to move from the cartoon-style Understanding Evolution pages into the more sophisticated realms of research science. Particularly, there are links to John Endler's research with Guppies that demonstrate the importance of ecology in evolutionary theory.
Diversity
The evolution of life has resulted in many species of animals, plants and insects. Paleobiology, the study of these creatures within their geological environment is a superior method of study over the current observational or experimental methods for studying evolutionary phenomena. Paleobiology focuses on not only the process and events that take place regularly or over time but also the relative abundance and distribution of different species of animals across the geological time.
The site is divided into various paths that can be chosen to study the subject of evolution. One of the paths, "Evolution 101," guides the user through the evolution of nature and the evidence of evolution. The path also examines myths about evolution and also the history of evolutionary thought.
에볼루션 사이트 of the other sections of the Evolution site is equally well developed, with materials that can be used to support a range of educational levels and pedagogical styles. In addition to the general textual content, the site features an array of multimedia and interactive content, such as videos, animations, and virtual laboratories. The content is presented in a nested bread crumb fashion that aids navigation and orientation within the vast Web site.
For instance, the page "Coral Reef Connections" provides an overview of the relationships between corals and their interaction with other organisms. It then narrows down to a single clam that can communicate with its neighbors and react 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 on the site, offer an excellent introduction to the broad range of topics in evolutionary biology. The content also includes an overview of the role of natural selectivity and the concept of phylogenetics analysis which is a crucial method for understanding the evolution of changes.
Evolutionary Theory
Evolution is an underlying thread that is found throughout all branches of biology. A rich collection 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 offers both depth and breadth in its educational resources. The site has a variety of interactive learning modules. It also has a nested "bread crumb" structure that helps students transition from the cartoon style of Understanding Evolution to elements on this large Web site closer to the world of research science. An animation that introduces the concept of genetics, which links to a page about John Endler's experiments with artificial selection using Guppies living in ponds native to Trinidad.
The Evolution Library on this website is a vast multimedia library of resources that are associated to evolution. The content is organized according to curriculum-based pathways that correspond to the learning objectives outlined in the biology standards. It contains seven short videos that are designed for use in classrooms. These can be streamed or purchased as DVDs.
Evolutionary biology is still a field of study that has many important questions, including what triggers evolution and how fast it takes place. This is particularly applicable to human evolution where it's been difficult to reconcile the idea that the physical characteristics of humans evolved from apes, and the religious beliefs that hold that humans are unique in the universe and has an enviable place in creation. It is a soul.
There are also a number of other ways evolution can take place including natural selection, which is the most popular theory. Scientists also study other types such as mutation, genetic drift and sexual selection.
Many fields of inquiry have a conflict with the literal interpretations of religious texts Evolutionary biology has been the subject of controversial debate and resistance from religious fundamentalists. While certain religions have managed to reconcile their beliefs with the ideas of evolution, others aren't.