Evolution Site - Teaching About Evolution
Despite the best efforts of biology educators, misinformation about evolution persist. People who have been exposed to popular science myths often assume that biologists claim they don't believe in evolution.
This rich Web site, which is a companion to the PBS program that provides teachers with resources that promote evolution education while avoiding the types of misconceptions which undermine it. It's laid out in a "bread crumb" format to make navigation and orientation easier.
Definitions
Evolution is a complex and difficult subject matter to teach effectively. It is often misunderstood even by non-scientists, and even some scientists are guilty of using an interpretation that is confusing the issue. This is especially relevant to debates about the nature of the word.
It is therefore 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 series that first aired in 2001, but it also functions as an independent resource. The content is presented in a nested manner that assists in navigation and orientation.
The site defines terms like common ancestor (or common ancestor), gradual process and adaptation. These terms help frame the nature and significance of evolution to other concepts in science. 에볼루션코리아 Evolution KR gives a comprehensive overview of the manner that evolution has been tested. This information can help dispel myths that are created by the creationists.
You can also consult a glossary that contains terms that are used in evolutionary biology. These terms include:
Adaptation is the process of changing hereditary traits to become more suitable to their environment. This is a result of natural selection. Organisms that have better-adapted characteristics are more likely than those with less-adapted traits to reproduce and survive.
Common ancestor (also called common ancestor) The most recent ancestor shared by two or more species. By studying the DNA of these species it is possible to determine the common ancestor.
Deoxyribonucleic Acid: A massive biological molecular that contains the necessary information for cell replication. The information is contained in nucleotides arranged in sequences that are strung together to form long chains, also known as chromosomes. Mutations are responsible for the creation of new genetic information inside cells.
Coevolution is a relationship between two species in which evolutionary changes in one species are influenced by evolutionary changes in the other. Examples of coevolution are the interactions between predator and prey or host and parasite.
Origins
Species (groups that can crossbreed) change through a series natural changes in their offspring's traits. These changes can be caused by various factors, including natural selection, gene drift and mixing of the gene pool. The evolution of a new species can take thousands of years and the process can be slowed down or speeded up by environmental conditions such as climate change or the competition for food or habitat.
The Evolution site traces through time the emergence of various groups of animals and plants, focusing on major transitions in each group's history. It also explores human evolution 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 found. The famous skullcap, along with the bones that accompanied it were discovered in 1856 in the Little Feldhofer Grotto of Germany. It is now regarded as an early Homo neanderthalensis. It is unlikely that Darwin was aware of the skullcap when it was published in 1858, a year after the publication of the first edition of The Origin. Origin.
The site is primarily one of biology, but it also contains lots of information about paleontology and geology. The Web site has a number of features that are especially impressive, such as the timeline of how climate and geological conditions have changed over time. It also features an interactive map that shows the location of fossil groups.
The site is a companion to the PBS television series, but it could be used as a resource by teachers and students. The site is well-organized and offers clear links to the introductory material of Understanding Evolution (developed under the National Science Foundation's support) and the more specialized features of the museum website. These hyperlinks facilitate the move from the cartoon-like style of the Understanding Evolution pages to the more sophisticated world of research science. Particularly there are links to John Endler's experiments using Guppies that demonstrate the importance of ecology in evolutionary theory.
Diversity
The evolution of life on Earth has led to a wide variety of animals, plants, and insects. Paleobiology is the study of these creatures in their natural environment is a superior method of study over modern observational or research methods of studying evolutionary phenomena. Paleobiology can examine not just the processes and events that happen regularly or over time but also the distribution and frequency of different groups of animals in space over the course of geological time.
The site is divided into various ways to learn about evolution, including "Evolution 101," which takes the viewer on a line through the nature of science and the evidence supporting the theory of evolution. The path also explores common misconceptions about evolution and the evolution of thought.
Each of the main sections on the Evolution website is equally well-designed, with materials that can be used to support a variety of levels of curriculum and teaching methods. In addition to the general textual content, the site features a wide range of multimedia and interactive resources including video clips, animations, and virtual laboratories. The content is laid out in a nested bread crumb fashion that aids navigation and orientation on the web site.
The page "Coral Reef Connections" For instance, it gives a brief overview of the coral's relationships and interactions with other organisms, and then is enlarged to show a single clam, which is able communicate with its neighbors and respond to changes in water conditions that occur on the reef level. This page, as well as the other multidisciplinary multimedia and interactive pages, gives a good introduction to many topics in evolutionary biology. The information also includes an explanation of the role of natural selection and the concept of phylogenetic analysis which is an important method to understand evolutionary change.
Evolutionary Theory
For biology students evolution is a crucial 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, the companion to PBS's TV series Understanding Evolution is an excellent example of an Web page that offers both depth as well as broadness in terms of educational resources. The site offers a variety of interactive learning modules. It also has a "bread crumb structure" that assists students in moving away from the cartoon-like style used in Understanding Evolution and onto elements on this site that are more closely related to the worlds of research science. For example an animation that introduces the notion of genetic inheritance leads to a page highlighting John Endler's experiments with artificial selection with guppies in native ponds of Trinidad.
Another useful resource is the Evolution Library on this site, which contains an extensive multimedia library of items connected to evolution. The content is organized in the form of curriculum-based pathways that are in line with the learning goals set forth in the standards for biology. It contains seven short videos designed for use in classrooms. They can be viewed online or purchased as DVDs.
Evolutionary biology is a field of study that poses many important questions, such as the causes of evolution and how quickly it occurs. This is especially true for human evolution, where it's been difficult to reconcile that the physical traits of humans evolved from apes and religions that believe that humans are unique in the universe and has an exclusive place in the creation, with soul.
There are a variety of other ways evolution can take place including natural selection, which is the most popular theory. Scientists also study other types such as genetic drift and sexual selection.
While many fields of scientific study have a conflict with the literal interpretations of religious texts, evolution biology has been the subject of intense controversy and opposition from religious fundamentalists. While certain religions have been able to reconcile their beliefs with the notions of evolution, others haven't.