washerweasel10

Evolution Site – Teaching About Evolution Despite the best efforts of biology teachers, there are still misconceptions regarding evolution. People who have absorbed the nonsense of pop science often believe that biologists are saying they do not believe in evolution. This rich website – companion to the PBS series It provides teachers with materials which support evolution education and avoids the kinds of misinformation that can hinder it. It's laid out in a “bread crumb” format to facilitate navigation and orientation. Definitions Evolution is a complicated and challenging subject to teach effectively. click through the following article who are not scientists often have a difficult time understanding the subject and some scientists use a definition that confuses it. This is particularly applicable to discussions about the definition of the word itself. As such, it is crucial to define the terms used in evolutionary biology. The website for the PBS show, Understanding Evolution, does this in a clear and helpful manner. It is an accompanying site for the 2001 series, but also a resource on its own. The content is presented in a nested manner that aids navigation and orientation. The site defines terms such as common ancestor, gradual process and adaptation. These terms help frame the nature and significance of evolution to other concepts in science. 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 propagated by the creationists. You can also access a glossary that includes terms that are used in evolutionary biology. These terms include: The process of adaptation is the tendency of heritable traits to become more suited to the environment. This is the result of natural selection. Organisms that have better-adapted characteristics are more likely than those with less adaptable characteristics to survive and reproduce. Common ancestor: The most recent common ancestor of two or more species. The common ancestor can be identified by studying the DNA of those species. Deoxyribonucleic acid: A massive biological molecule that holds the information required for cell replication. The information is stored in nucleotide sequences, which are strung into long chains, referred to as chromosomes. Mutations are the cause of new genetic information in cells. Coevolution is the relationship between two species, where the evolutionary changes of one species are influenced by evolutionary changes in the other. Coevolution can be seen through the interaction between predator and prey, or parasite and hosts. Origins Species (groups that can interbreed), evolve through a series 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 evolution of a new species could take thousands of years, and the process could be slowed or increased due to environmental conditions, such as climate change or competition for food or habitat. The Evolution site tracks through time the evolution of different species of plants and animals and focuses on major changes within each group's past. It also focuses on the evolutionary origin of humans which is particularly important for students to comprehend. Darwin's Origin was published in 1859, when only a few antediluvian fossils of humans had been found. One of them was the infamous skullcap and bones that were discovered 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 before the first edition of the Origin was published, it's very unlikely that Darwin had ever heard of it. The site is mostly one of biology however it also includes many details on geology and paleontology. The most impressive features on the site are a timeline of events that show how geological and climatic conditions have changed over time as well as an outline of the distribution of a few fossil groups that are featured on the site. Although the site is a companion to a PBS television show but it also stands on its own as a great resource for 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 specific components of the museum's Web site. These links make it easier to transition from the cartoon style of Understanding Evolution pages into the more sophisticated worlds of research science. Particularly there are links to John Endler's research with guppies that illustrate the importance of ecology in evolutionary theory. Diversity The evolution of life has resulted in many species of plants, animals and insects. Paleobiology is the study of these creatures within their natural environment and has many advantages over the modern observational and research methods of examining evolutionary processes. In addition to exploring processes and events that take place frequently or over a long period of time, paleobiology allows to analyze the diversity of species of organisms and their distribution across the geological time. The site is divided up into various routes that can be taken to study the subject of evolution. One of the paths, “Evolution 101,” walks the reader through the evolution of nature and the evidence of evolution. The path also examines myths regarding evolution, as well as the history of evolutionary thinking. Each of the main sections on the Evolution website is equally well-developed, and includes materials that are suited to a variety of educational levels and teaching styles. The site offers a wide array of multimedia and interactive resources, including video clips, 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 website. The page “Coral Reef Connections”, for example, gives a brief overview of coral relationships and their interactions with other organisms and then zooms in on a single clam, which is able to communicate with its neighbors and respond to changes in water conditions that occur on the reef level. This page, along with the other multidisciplinary multimedia and interactive pages, provides an excellent introduction to a variety of 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 in understanding evolutionary change. Evolutionary Theory Evolution is an underlying thread that connects all branches of biology. A wide range of resources can help teachers teach about evolution across the life sciences. One resource, which is the companion to PBS's television show Understanding Evolution is an excellent example of an Web page that provides the depth and the breadth in terms of its educational resources. The site features a wealth of interactive learning modules. It also has an encased “bread crumb” structure that allows students to move from the cartoon-like style of Understanding Evolution to elements on this huge site that are closer to the world of research science. An animation that introduces students to the concept of genetics links to a page about John Endler's experiments with artificial selection using Guppies in native ponds in Trinidad. Another resource that is worth mentioning is the Evolution Library on this web site, which has an extensive multimedia library of resources related to evolution. The content is organized according to curricula-based paths that correspond to the learning objectives outlined in the standards for biology. It includes seven short videos that are designed for classroom use. These can be viewed online or purchased as DVDs. A variety of crucial questions remain at the heart of evolutionary biology, including what triggers evolution and the speed at which it occurs. This is especially true for humans' evolution where it was a challenge to reconcile religious beliefs that held that humans have a distinct place in the creation and a soul, with the notion that human beings have innate physical traits were derived from apes. There are also a number of other ways evolution could occur including natural selection, which is the most popular theory. Scientists also study different types such as genetic drift and sexual selection. Although many scientific fields of study are in conflict with the literal interpretations of religious texts, the concept of evolution biology has been a subject of intense debate and resistance from religious fundamentalists. Certain religions have reconciled their beliefs with evolution, while others haven't.