Evolution Site - Teaching About Evolution
Despite the best efforts of biology educators, misinformation about evolution remain. People who have taken in popular science myths often assume that biologists are saying they don't believe in evolution.
This site, which is a companion to the PBS program that provides teachers with resources which support evolution education, while avoiding the kinds of misconceptions which make it difficult to understand. It's organized in the "bread crumb" format to facilitate navigation and orientation.
Definitions
It is difficult to teach evolution well. It is often misunderstood even by non-scientists, and even some scientists use definitions that confuse the issue. This is especially true when discussing the nature of the words themselves.
It is therefore essential to define the terms used in evolutionary biology. Understanding Evolution's website provides this in a straightforward and useful way. The site is a companion site to the show that premiered in 2001, but can also function as an independent resource. The material is presented in a nested fashion which aids navigation and orientation.
The site defines terms such as common ancestor and the gradual process. These terms help frame the nature of evolution and its relation to other concepts in science. The site gives a comprehensive overview of the way that evolution has been examined. This information can help dispel myths created by creationists.
It is also possible to find a glossary of terms that are used in evolutionary biology. These terms include:
The process of adaptation is the tendency of hereditary traits to become better suited to an environment. This is a result of natural selection, which happens when organisms that have better adapted characteristics are more likely to survive and reproduce than those with less adaptable characteristics.
Common ancestor: The latest common ancestor of two or more different species. By analyzing the DNA from these species it is possible to determine the common ancestor.
Deoxyribonucleic Acid: A massive biological molecular containing the necessary information for cell replication. The information is stored in nucleotide sequences that are strung into long chains, referred to as chromosomes. Mutations are the cause of new genetic information in cells.
Coevolution is a relationship between two species in which evolutionary changes in one species are dependent on evolutionary changes in the other. Examples of coevolution are the interactions between predator and prey or host and parasite.
Origins
Species (groups which can interbreed) change through a series of natural changes in the traits of their offspring. Changes can be caused by many factors, such as natural selection, gene drift and mixing of the gene pool. The development of a new species can take thousands of years and the process may be slowed down or speeded up due to environmental conditions, such as climate change or the competition for food or habitat.
The Evolution site traces the emergence of a variety of groups of animals and plants over time, focusing on the major changes that took place in the history of each group. It also examines the evolutionary history of humans which is crucial for students to understand.
When Darwin wrote the Origin, only a handful of antediluvian human fossils had been found. Among them was the famous skullcap and associated bones found in 1856 at the Little Feldhofer Grotto in Germany that is now thought to be an early Homo neanderthalensis. Although the skullcap was not published until 1858, which was a year before the first edition of the Origin was published, it's very unlikely that Darwin had ever heard of it.
The site is primarily one of biology however, it also has many details on paleontology and geology. Among the best features of the Web site are a set of timelines that illustrate how geological and climatic conditions have changed over time and an outline of the geographical distribution of some fossil groups that are featured on the site.
The site is a companion for a PBS TV series but it can also be used as an educational resource for teachers and students. The site is well-organized, and provides easy links to the introductory information of Understanding Evolution (developed under the National Science Foundation's support) and the more specific features of the museum's website. These hyperlinks make it easy to move from the cartoon-style Understanding Evolution pages into the more sophisticated worlds of research science. There are links to John Endler's experiments with guppies that illustrate the importance ecology in evolutionary theory.
Diversity
The evolution of life has led to a variety of animals, plants and insects. Paleobiology, the study of these creatures in their geological environment is a superior method of study over modern observational or experimental methods for exploring evolutionary phenomena. In addition to examining processes and events that take place regularly or over a long period of time, paleobiology can be used to analyze the relative abundance of various species of organisms and their distribution throughout the geological time.
The site is divided into a variety of paths to learning evolution which include "Evolution 101," which takes the user on a linear path through the scientific process and the evidence to support the theory of evolution. The course also focuses on misconceptions regarding evolution, and also the history of evolutionary thinking.
Each of the main sections of the Evolution website is equally well-developed, with materials that support a variety curriculum levels and teaching styles. The site includes a variety of interactive and multimedia resources which include animations, video clips and virtual laboratories as well as general textual content. The breadcrumb-like structure of the content helps with 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 interactions with other organisms. It then zooms in on a single clam that can 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 wide range of topics in evolutionary biology. The content includes a discussion on the significance of natural selectivity and the concept of phylogenetics as a key method for understanding the evolution of changes.
Evolutionary Theory
For biology students evolution is a crucial thread that connects all branches of the field. A wide selection of resources helps teachers teach evolution across all disciplines of life science.
One resource, which is a companion to the PBS television series Understanding Evolution, is an exceptional example of an Web site that provides depth and a variety of educational resources. The site offers a variety of interactive learning modules. It also features a "bread crumb structure" that allows students to move away from the cartoon-like style that is used in Understanding Evolution and onto elements on this site that are more closely linked to the worlds of research science. For example an animation that introduces the idea of genetic inheritance connects to a page that focuses on John Endler's artificial selection experiments with guppies in native ponds of Trinidad.
The Evolution Library on this website is a vast multimedia library of materials that deal with evolution. The content is organized according to curricula-based pathways that correspond to the learning objectives set out in biology standards. It contains seven videos designed specifically for use in classrooms, and can be streamed for free or purchased on DVD.
A variety of crucial questions remain at the core of evolutionary biology, such as what triggers evolution and the speed at which it occurs. This is particularly applicable to human evolution where it's been difficult to reconcile the notion that the physical characteristics of humans derived from apes and religions that believe that humans are unique in the universe and has a special place in creation, with a soul.
There are a myriad of other ways evolution can take place including natural selection, which is the most widely accepted theory. However scientists also study other kinds of evolution like mutation, genetic drift and sexual selection, among others.
While many scientific fields of study conflict with the literal interpretations of religious texts, evolution biology has been the subject of intense debate and resistance from religious fundamentalists. While 무료 에볼루션 have managed to reconcile their beliefs with the ideas of evolution, other religions have not.