How To Choose The Right Evolution Site On The Internet
Evolution Site - Teaching About Evolution
Despite the best efforts of biology educators, misconceptions about evolution remain. 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 offers teachers resources that promote evolution education while avoiding the types of misconceptions that hinder it. It's laid out in the "bread crumb" format to aid in navigation and orientation.
Definitions
Evolution is a complicated and difficult subject matter to teach well. It is often misunderstood by non-scientists and even scientists have been guilty of using definitions that confuse the issue. This is especially applicable to debates about the definition of the word itself.
It is therefore crucial to define the terms used in evolutionary biology. Understanding Evolution's website provides this in a simple and efficient way. The site is a companion to the series that first aired in 2001, but can also function as an independent resource. The information is presented in a structured way that makes it easy to navigate and understand.
The site defines terms such as common ancestor, gradual process and adaptation. These terms help frame the nature of evolution and its relation to other concepts in science. The site also provides an overview of how the concept of evolution has been vetted and validated. This information can help dispel the myths that are created by the creationists.
You can also access a glossary that includes terms that are used in evolutionary biology. These terms include:
Adaptation is the process of changing heritable traits to be more suited to the environment. This is the result of natural selection. Organisms with more adaptable characteristics are more likely than those with less adapted characteristics to survive and reproduce.
Common ancestor (also known as common ancestor): The most recent ancestor that is shared by two or more species. By analyzing the DNA from these species it is possible to determine the common ancestor.
Deoxyribonucleic Acid: A large biological molecular containing the information required for cell replication. The information is stored in nucleotide sequences that are strung into long chains called chromosomes. Mutations are the cause of new genetic information in cells.
Coevolution: A relationship between two species in which evolutionary changes in one species are affected by changes in evolutionary processes in the other. Coevolution is evident in the interactions between predator and prey, or parasite and hosts.
Origins
Species (groups of individuals who can interbreed) evolve through an array of natural changes in the characteristics of their offspring. The causes of these changes are many factors, such as natural selection, gene drift, and mixing of the gene pool. The evolution of new species could take thousands of years. Environmental circumstances, such as climate changes or competition for food and habitat, can slow or accelerate the process.
The Evolution site traces the emergence of various species of plants and animals over time, focusing on the major shifts that occurred throughout the history of each group. It also examines the evolutionary history of humans, a topic that is crucial for students to know.
Darwin's Origin was published in 1859, at a time when only a few antediluvian fossils of humans had been found. The famous skullcap, along with the bones associated with it, was discovered in 1856 in the Little Feldhofer Grotto of Germany. It is now known as an early Homo neanderthalensis. It is highly unlikely that Darwin was aware of the skullcap, which was published in 1858, which was a year after the publication of the first edition of The Origin. Origin.
While the site focuses on biology, it also contains a wealth of information about geology as well as paleontology. One of the most appealing features on the site are a set of timelines that illustrate how geological and climatic conditions have changed over time, and a map of the distribution of a few fossil groups that are featured on the site.
The site is a companion to the PBS TV series but it could be used as a resource by teachers and students. The site is very well-organized and has clear links between the introduction material in Understanding Evolution (developed with support from the National Science Foundation) and the more specialized elements of the museum Web site. These links facilitate the transition from the enthralling cartoon style of the Understanding Evolution pages to the more sophisticated world of research science. There are links to John Endler's experiments with guppies that illustrate the importance of ecology in evolutionary theory.
Diversity
The evolution of life has produced a variety of animals, plants and insects. Paleobiology is the study of these creatures within their geographical context and offers many advantages over the modern observational and research methods of examining evolutionary processes. Paleobiology is able to study not only 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 up into different routes that can be taken to learn about evolution. One of the paths, "Evolution 101," walks the reader through the evolution of nature and the evidence of evolution. The course also focuses on misconceptions about evolution and the background of evolutionary thought.
Each of the main sections on the Evolution website is equally well-designed, with materials that are suited to a variety of curriculum levels and teaching styles. In addition to general textual content, the site also has a wide range of interactive and multimedia resources including video clips, animations, and virtual laboratories. The content is laid out in a nested bread crumb fashion that aids navigation and orientation within the vast Web site.
The page "Coral Reef Connections" For instance, the page "Coral Reef Connections" provides a comprehensive overview of the coral's relationships and interactions with other organisms and then zooms in on one clam, which is able 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 many topics in evolutionary biology. The content also includes an explanation of the importance of natural selection and the concept phylogenetics analysis as a key tool for understanding evolutionary change.
Evolutionary Theory
Evolution is an underlying thread that runs through all branches of biology. A vast collection of books helps in teaching evolution across the disciplines of life science.
One resource, which is the companion to PBS's television show Understanding Evolution is an excellent example of a Web site that provides depth as well as broadness in terms of educational resources. The site features a wealth of interactive learning modules. It also features an embedded "bread crumb" structure that helps students transition from the cartoon style of Understanding Evolution to elements on this large Web site more closely linked to the field of research science. go now that introduces the concept of genetics, which links to a page that highlights John Endler's experiments with artificial selection using guppies on native ponds in Trinidad.
Another useful resource is the Evolution Library on this Web website, which includes an extensive collection of multimedia assets that are related to evolution. The contents are organized into courses that are based on curriculum and follow the learning objectives outlined in the standards for biology. It contains seven videos designed specifically for use in classrooms, and can be streamed for free or purchased on DVD.
Evolutionary biology is an area of study that poses many important questions, including what triggers evolution and how fast it takes place. This is especially true for human evolution, where it's been difficult to reconcile the idea that the innate physical characteristics of humans derived from apes and religions that believe that humanity is unique in the universe and has an enviable place in creation with soul.
There are a myriad of other ways in which evolution could occur and natural selection being the most popular theory. Scientists also study other types such as mutation, genetic drift and sexual selection.
Many fields of inquiry have a conflict with the literal interpretations of religious texts evolutionary biology has been the subject of controversial debate and resistance from religious fundamentalists. Certain religions have reconciled their beliefs to evolution while others haven't.