Evolution Site - Teaching About Evolution

Despite the best efforts of biology educators, misconceptions about evolution persist. People who have been exposed to popular science myths often assume that biologists do not believe in evolution.

This rich website - companion to the PBS series offers teachers with resources which support evolution education and help avoid the kinds of myths that undermine it. It's arranged in a nested "bread crumb" format to facilitate navigation and orientation.

Definitions

Evolution is a complicated and challenging subject to teach effectively. Many non-scientists are unable to grasp the concept and some scientists use a definition that confuses it. This is especially applicable to discussions on 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 manner. It is a companion for the 2001 series, but it is also a resource on its own. The information is presented in a structured manner that makes it simpler to navigate and comprehend.

The site defines terms such as common ancestor, gradual process and so on. These terms help to define the nature of evolution and its relation to other concepts in science. The site gives a comprehensive overview of the manner that evolution has been tested. This information can help dispel the myths that are created by the creationists.

You can also consult a glossary that includes terms that are used in evolutionary biology. These terms include:

Adaptation: The tendency of heritable characteristics to become more suitable to a particular setting. This is a result of natural selection. Organisms with better-adapted traits are more likely than those with less adapted traits to reproduce and survive.

Common ancestor (also known as common ancestor) is the most recent ancestor that is shared by two or more species. By studying the DNA of these species it is possible to identify the common ancestor.

Deoxyribonucleic acid: A huge biological molecule that contains the information necessary for cell replication. The information is stored in a sequence of nucleotides that are strung together into long chains, also known as chromosomes. Mutations are the reason behind the creation of new genetic information inside cells.

Coevolution is the relationship between two species where evolution of one species are influenced by evolutionary changes of the other. Coevolution can be observed in the interaction of predator and prey, or parasite and hosts.

Origins

Species (groups that can crossbreed) change by a series of natural variations in the traits of their offspring. The changes can be triggered by a variety such as natural selection, genetic drift, and mixing of gene pools. The development of new species can take thousands of years. Environmental conditions, such as climate changes or competition for food or habitat, can slow or accelerate the process.

The Evolution site tracks the evolution of a number of different animal and plant groups through time, focusing on the major shifts that occurred throughout the evolution of each group's history. It also examines the human evolutionary roots, a topic that is especially important for students to know.

When Darwin wrote the Origin in 1859, only a handful of antediluvian human fossils had been discovered. One of them was the infamous skullcap and bones that were discovered in 1856 in the Little Feldhofer Grotto in Germany, which is now known to be an early Homo neanderthalensis. It is unlikely that Darwin was aware of the skullcap, which was first published in 1858, one year following the initial edition of The Origin.

The site is mostly one of biology, but it also contains a lot of information on paleontology and geology. One of the most appealing features of the website are a series of timelines that illustrate how climatic and geological conditions changed over time, and an interactive map of the distribution of some fossil groups listed on the site.

The site is a companion to the PBS television series, but it could also be used as a resource for 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 funding) as well as the more specialized features of the museum website. These hyperlinks make it easier to transition from the cartoon-style Understanding Evolution pages into the more sophisticated realms of research science. There are also links 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 animals, plants and insects. Paleobiology is the study of these creatures in their geological environment is a superior method of study over the current observational or experimental methods for studying evolutionary phenomena. In addition to exploring processes and 에볼루션 바카라 무료 events that occur regularly or over a long period of time, paleobiology allows to examine the relative abundance of different kinds of organisms as well as their distribution in space over the course of geological time.

The website is divided into different routes that can be taken to gain knowledge about evolution. One of the paths, "Evolution 101," takes the viewer through the evolution of nature and the evidence of evolution. The path also explores misconceptions about 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 can be used to support a variety of curriculum levels and teaching styles. The site has a range of multimedia and interactive resources which include video clips, animations and virtual labs in addition to general textual content. The content is laid out in a nested bread crumb style that facilitates navigation and orientation within the vast Web site.

The page "Coral Reef Connections" For instance, it provides a comprehensive overview of the relationships between corals and 에볼루션 사이트 바카라 체험 (www.Daoban.Org) their interactions with other organisms, and 에볼루션 룰렛 then zooms in to one clam that is able to communicate with its neighbors and 에볼루션 바카라 무료 (Www.Viewtool.Com) respond to changes in the water conditions that occur on the reef level. This page, along with the other multidisciplinary, multimedia, and interactive pages on the website, provide an excellent introduction to the broad range of topics in evolutionary biology. The content includes an explanation of the role of natural selectivity and the concept of phylogenetics analysis which is a crucial tool to understand evolutionary change.

Evolutionary Theory

For biology students evolution is a crucial thread that connects all branches of the field. A rich collection supports teaching evolution across the life science disciplines.

One resource, which is a companion to the PBS television series Understanding Evolution, is an outstanding example of an Web site that provides depth and a variety of educational resources. The site features a wide range of interactive learning modules. It also has a "bread crumb structure" that allows students to move away from the cartoon style of Understanding Evolution and onto elements on this large website more closely connected to the realms of research science. For example, an animation introducing the concept of genetic inheritance links to a page that focuses on John Endler's experiments with artificial selection using guppies in the ponds of his native country of Trinidad.

Another resource that is worth mentioning is the Evolution Library on this Web site, which has an extensive multimedia library of resources connected to evolution. The content is organized according to courses that are based on curriculum and follow the learning objectives outlined in biology standards. It includes seven short videos specifically designed for use in classrooms. They can be viewed online or purchased as DVDs.

A variety of crucial questions remain at the heart of evolutionary biology, such as what triggers evolution and how fast it happens. This is particularly true for humans' evolution, where it was difficult to reconcile religious beliefs that humanity has a special place in creation and a soul, with the notion that human beings have innate physical traits were derived from apes.

There are a myriad of other ways evolution can take place including natural selection, which is the most widely accepted theory. Scientists also study other types such as mutation, genetic drift, and sexual selection.

While many scientific fields of inquiry have a conflict with literal interpretations of religious texts, evolutionary biology has been the subject of controversial debate and resistance from religious fundamentalists. While certain religions have been able to reconcile their beliefs with the notions of evolution, others have not.