Evolution Site - Teaching About Evolution
Despite the best efforts by biology teachers, there are still misconceptions about evolution. Pop science fiction has led a lot of people to believe that biologists don't believe 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 kinds of misconceptions which hinder it. It's organized in the "bread crumb" format to aid in navigation and orientation.
Definitions
It's difficult to effectively teach evolution. Many non-scientists are unable to grasp the concept and some scientists use a definition which confuses it. This is especially applicable to discussions on the meaning of the word itself.
As such, it is important to define terms used in evolutionary biology. Understanding Evolution's website provides this in an easy and helpful manner. The site is both an accompaniment to the 2001 series, but it is also a resource on its own. The material is presented in a nested fashion that aids navigation and orientation.
The site defines terms such as common ancestor, the gradual process, and adaptation. These terms help to frame the nature of evolution as well as its relationship to other concepts in science. The site provides an overview of the way that evolution has been tested. This information can be used to dispel myths that have been propagated by the creationists.
You can also consult a glossary that includes terms used in evolutionary biology. These terms include:
Adaptation: The tendency of heritable traits to become better adaptable to a specific environment. This is a result of natural selection. Organisms with more adaptable traits are more likely than those with less adaptable traits to survive and reproduce.
Common ancestor: The latest common ancestor of two or more different species. The common ancestor can be identified through analyzing the DNA of those species.
Deoxyribonucleic acid: A massive biological molecule that contains the information required for cell replication. The information is stored in nucleotide sequences which are strung into long chains called chromosomes. Mutations are responsible for the creation of new genetic information inside cells.
Coevolution is the relationship between two species in which the evolution of one species are influenced evolutionary changes in the other. Coevolution can be observed in the interaction of predator and prey, or parasite and hosts.
Origins
Species (groups that can interbreed), evolve through a series natural changes in the traits of their offspring. The changes can be caused by a variety of factors, including natural selection, genetic drift, and mixing of gene pools. The evolution of a new species can 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 various species of plants and animals over time, focusing on the major shifts that occurred throughout each group's history. It also explores human evolution, which is a topic that is of particular interest for 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 associated with 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, which was published in 1858, which was a year following the initial edition of The Origin. Origin.
While the site focuses on biology, it also offers a lot of information about geology as well as paleontology. The Web site has a number of features that are especially impressive, such as a timeline of how geological and climate 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 TV series but it can also be used as an educational resource for teachers and students. The site is well-organized and offers clear links to the introductory information of Understanding Evolution (developed under the National Science Foundation's assistance) and the more specialized features on the museum's website. These hyperlinks help users move from the enthralling cartoon style of the Understanding Evolution pages to the more sophisticated world of research science. In particular there are hyperlinks to John Endler's experiments with Guppies, which demonstrate the importance of ecology in evolutionary theory.
Diversity
The evolution of life has resulted in many species of plants, animals and insects. Paleobiology, the study of these creatures within their geological environment offers many advantages over modern observational or experimental methods of studying evolutionary processes. Paleobiology focuses on not only the process and events that take place frequently or over time, but also the distribution and frequency of various animal groups across geological time.
The Web site is divided into various pathways to understanding evolution that include "Evolution 101," which takes the user on a linear path through the scientific process and the evidence that supports the theory of evolution. The course also focuses on the most common misconceptions about evolution, as well as the evolution of thought.
Each of the other major sections of the Evolution site is equally created, with resources that can support a variety of educational levels and pedagogical styles. In addition to the standard textual content, the site also has an array of interactive and multimedia resources including video clips, animations, and virtual labs. The breadcrumb-like arrangement of the content aids in navigation and orientation on the vast web site.
For instance, the page "Coral Reef Connections" gives a brief overview of the relationships between corals and their interaction with other organisms. It then zooms in on a single clam that is able to communicate with its neighbours and respond to changes in water conditions at the level of the reef. This page, as well as the other multidisciplinary, multimedia and interactive pages on the website, provide an excellent introduction to a broad spectrum of topics in evolutionary biology. The information also includes an explanation of the role of natural selection and the concept of phylogenetic analysis which is a crucial method to understand evolutionary change.
Evolution ary Theory
Evolution is an underlying thread that is found throughout all branches of biology. A vast collection of books helps in teaching evolution across the disciplines of life sciences.
One resource, the companion to PBS's TV series Understanding Evolution is an excellent example of a Web page that offers both depth and breadth in terms of its educational resources. The site offers a range of interactive learning modules. It also features an encased "bread crumb" structure that allows students to move from the cartoon style of Understanding Evolution to elements on this massive website that are closer to the field of research science. For example, an animation introducing the concept of genetic inheritance links to a page highlighting John Endler's experiments in artificial selection using guppies in the ponds of his native country of Trinidad.
The Evolution Library on this website has a huge multimedia library of resources that are associated to evolution. The content is organized into curriculum-based pathways that correspond to the learning objectives outlined in the standards for biology. It contains seven videos designed specifically for use in classrooms, and can be streamed at no cost or purchased on DVD.
A number of important questions remain at the heart of evolutionary biology, such as the factors that trigger evolution and the speed at which it occurs. This is especially true for the evolution of humans which was a challenge to reconcile religious beliefs that held that humanity has a unique place in the creation and a soul, with the notion that human beings have innate physical traits originated from apes.
In addition there are a myriad of ways that evolution could occur with natural selection being the most popular theory. Scientists also study other kinds like mutation, genetic drift and sexual selection.
Many fields of inquiry conflict with literal interpretations of religious texts, evolutionary biology has been the subject of fierce debate and opposition from religious fundamentalists. Certain religions have embraced their beliefs with evolutionary biology, but others haven't.