Evolution Site - Teaching About Evolution
Despite the best efforts of biology educators, there are still a lot of misconceptions regarding evolution. People who have been exposed to pop science nonsense often assume that biologists don't believe in evolution.
This rich website - companion to the PBS series It provides teachers with materials that support evolution education and help avoid the kinds of misinformation that can make it difficult to understand. It's arranged in a nested "bread crumb" format for ease of navigation and orientation.
Definitions
It is difficult to properly teach evolution. Many non-scientists are unable to grasp the concept and some scientists use a definition that confuses it. This is particularly true when discussing the meaning of the words themselves.
It is crucial to define the terms used in evolutionary biology. Understanding Evolution's website helps you define these terms in a simple and efficient way. The website is a companion to the show which first aired in 2001, but is also an independent resource. The content is presented in an organized manner that makes it easier to navigate and comprehend.
The site defines terms like common ancestor, gradual process and adaptation. 에볼루션바카라사이트 help frame the nature of evolution and its relation to other concepts in science. The website provides a summary of the manner the concept of evolution has been examined. This information can be used to dispel myths that have been propagated by the creationists.
You can also consult a glossary that contains terms that are used in evolutionary biology. These terms include:
Adaptation is the tendency of hereditary traits to become more suited to the environment. This is a result of natural selection. Organisms that have 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. The common ancestor can be identified through analyzing the DNA of these species.
Deoxyribonucleic acid: A large biological molecule that contains the information required 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 evolutionary changes of one species are influenced by evolutionary changes of the other. Examples of coevolution include the interaction between predator and prey or the parasite and the host.
Origins
Species (groups which can interbreed) change through a series natural changes in their offspring's traits. The changes can be triggered by a variety of factors that include natural selection, genetic drift, and mixing of gene pools. The evolution of new species could take thousands of years. Environmental conditions, such as climate change or competition for food resources and habitat can slow or speed up the process.
The Evolution site tracks the evolution 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 origin of humans which is particularly important for students to understand.
When Darwin wrote the Origin of Species, 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 to be an early Homo neanderthalensis. Although the skullcap was not published until 1858, just one year after the first edition of the Origin was published, it is extremely unlikely that Darwin had heard or seen of it.
The site is primarily a biology site however, it also has lots of information about paleontology and geology. Among the best features of the website are a timeline of events which show how geological and climatic conditions have changed over time, as well as a map of the geographical distribution of some fossil groups that are featured on the site.
The site is a companion to a PBS television series, but it could also be used as a resource by teachers and students. The site is extremely well organized and provides clear links between the introductory content in Understanding Evolution (developed with support from the National Science Foundation) and the more sophisticated components of the museum's Web site. These links make it easier to transition from the cartoon-style Understanding Evolution pages into the more sophisticated realms 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 on Earth has resulted in a variety of plants, animals, and insects. Paleobiology, the study of these creatures within their geological environment, has many advantages over modern observational or experimental methods of studying evolutionary phenomena. Paleobiology is able to study not only the process and events that occur frequently or over time, but also the distribution and frequency of various animal groups in space over the course of the geological time.
The website is divided into various paths that can be chosen to learn about evolution. One of the paths, "Evolution 101," guides the user through the evolution of nature and the evidence of evolution. The path also explores misconceptions regarding evolution, and also the history of evolutionary thought.
Each of the other sections of the Evolution site is equally constructed, with materials that can be used to support a range of curriculum levels and pedagogical styles. The site includes a variety of interactive and multimedia content, including videos, animations, and virtual labs, in addition to its general textual content. The breadcrumb-like organization of the content assists with navigation and orientation on the large web site.
For example the page "Coral Reef Connections" provides an 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 neighbors and react to changes in water conditions at the level of the reef. This page, along with the other multidisciplinary, multimedia, and interactive pages on the site, provide an excellent introduction to a wide range of topics in evolutionary biology. The material also provides an overview of the importance of natural selection and the concept of phylogenetic analysis, which is a key method to understand evolutionary change.
Evolutionary Theory
For biology students evolution is a crucial thread that binds all branches of the field. A vast collection of books helps in teaching evolution across all life science disciplines.
One resource, the companion to PBS's TV series Understanding Evolution is an excellent example of an Web page that offers both the depth and the wide range of educational resources. The site has a variety of interactive learning modules. It also features an "bread crumb structure" that helps students move away from the cartoon-like style that is used in Understanding Evolution and onto elements of this vast website that are closely related to the fields of research science. Animation that introduces the concept of genetics, which links to a page that highlights John Endler's artificial-selection experiments with Guppies living in ponds native to Trinidad.
The Evolution Library on this website has a huge multimedia library of assets related with evolution. The content is organized into curricula-based paths that correspond to the learning objectives outlined in the biology standards. It includes seven short videos specifically designed for use in classrooms, and can be streamed for free or purchased on DVD.
Evolutionary biology is still a field of study that has many important questions, such as the causes of evolution and how fast it takes place. This is especially relevant to human evolution, where it's been difficult to reconcile that the innate physical characteristics of humans derived from apes with religions that believe that humanity is unique among living things and holds a a special place in creation. It is a soul.
In addition, there are a number of ways that evolution could occur, with natural selection being the most popular theory. Scientists also study other kinds such as genetic drift, and sexual selection.
Many fields of inquiry are in conflict with the literal interpretations of the Bible, evolutionary biology has been the subject of particularly intense controversy and resistance from religious fundamentalists. Certain religions have reconciled their beliefs with evolutionary biology, but others haven't.