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Evolution Site – Teaching About Evolution Despite the best efforts of biology teachers, misinformation about evolution remain. Pop science nonsense has led many people to think that biologists don't believe in evolution. This rich Web site – companion to the PBS series It provides teachers with materials that promote evolution education and avoid the kinds of myths that hinder it. It's laid out in a nested “bread crumb” format for ease of navigation and orientation. Definitions It is difficult to effectively teach evolution. Non-scientists often misunderstand the subject and some scientists employ a definition that confuses it. This is particularly relevant when it comes to the definition of the words. It is therefore important to define the terms that are used in evolutionary biology. The website for the PBS show, Understanding Evolution, does this in a clear and helpful way. The site is both an accompanying site for the 2001 series, and also a resource of its own. The material is presented in a nested fashion that aids navigation and orientation. The site defines terms such as common ancestor and gradual process. These terms help frame the nature of evolution and its relationship to evolution to other scientific concepts. The site then offers an overview of how the concept of evolution has been researched and verified. This information can help dispel the myths created by creationists. It is also possible to access the glossary of terms used in evolutionary biology. These terms include: Adaptation is the process of changing heritable traits to become more suited to the environment. This is due to natural selection, which happens when organisms that are better adapted traits are more likely to survive and reproduce than those with less adapted characteristics. Common ancestor (also known as common ancestor) The most recent ancestor that is shared by two or more species. The common ancestor can be identified through analyzing the DNA of the species. Deoxyribonucleic Acid: A massive biological molecular containing the information needed for cell replication. The information is contained 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 a relation between two species, where the evolutionary changes of one species are influenced evolutionary changes in the other. Examples of coevolution include the interactions between predator and prey or host and parasite. Origins Species (groups of individuals that can interbreed) evolve through a series of natural changes in the characteristics of their offspring. The causes of these changes are various factors, including natural selection, gene drift, and mixing of the gene pool. The development of a new species may take thousands of years, and the process can be slowed or increased by environmental factors like climate change or the competition for food or habitat. The Evolution site follows the evolution of different species of plants and animals with a focus on major changes within each group's past. It also focuses on the human evolutionary roots, a topic that is especially important for students to know. Darwin's Origin was written in 1859, at a time when only a handful of antediluvian fossils of humans were discovered. Among them was the famous skullcap and bones that were discovered 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, one year before the first edition of the Origin appeared, it is extremely unlikely that Darwin had seen or heard of it. The site is mostly one of biology however, it also has lots of information about paleontology and geology. The site offers a number of features that are especially impressive, including a timeline of the way that climate and geological conditions have changed over the course of time. It also features maps that show the locations of fossil groups. While the site is a companion piece to the PBS television series but it also stands on its own as a great source for teachers and students. The site is well-organized and provides clear links to the introduction information of Understanding Evolution (developed under the National Science Foundation's assistance) and the more specialized features on the museum's website. These hyperlinks make it easier to move from the cartoon style of Understanding Evolution pages into the more sophisticated worlds of research science. In particular there are hyperlinks to John Endler's research 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 offers many advantages over modern observational or research methods for exploring evolutionary phenomena. In addition to studying processes and events that take place frequently or over a long period of time, paleobiology allows to study the relative abundance of various species of organisms and their distribution in space over the geological time. The site is divided into various pathways to understanding evolution that include “Evolution 101,” which takes the viewer on a line through the nature of science and the evidence to support the theory of evolution. The course also focuses on common misconceptions about evolution as well as the evolution theory's history. Each of the main sections of the Evolution website is equally well-developed, with materials that support a variety educational levels and teaching styles. The site offers a wide array of interactive and multimedia content, including animations, video clips and virtual labs as well as general textual content. The content is organized in a nested, bread crumb-like fashion that helps with navigation and orientation within the large Web site. The page “Coral Reef Connections” For instance, it provides a comprehensive overview of coral relationships and their interactions with other organisms and zooms in on one clam that is able communicate with its neighbours and respond to changes in the conditions of the water at the reef level. This page, along with the other multidisciplinary, multimedia, and interactive pages on the site, offer an excellent introduction to a wide spectrum of topics in evolutionary biology. The content also includes an explanation of the importance of natural selection and the concept of phylogenetics analysis, an important tool to understand evolutionary change. Evolutionary Theory For biology students the concept of evolution is a major thread that weaves together all branches of the field. A rich collection supports teaching evolution across the life science disciplines. One resource, the companion to PBS's television show Understanding Evolution is an excellent example of an Web page that provides depth as well as breadth in terms of its educational resources. The site has a wide array of interactive learning modules. 에볼루션 블랙잭 features an embedded “bread crumb” structure that allows students to transition from the cartoon style of Understanding Evolution to elements on this massive website that are closer to the field of research science. An animation that introduces students to the concept of genetics, which links to a page that highlights John Endler's experiments with artificial selection using Guppies in native ponds in Trinidad. The Evolution Library on this website contains a large multimedia library of materials that deal with evolution. The contents are organized into curriculum-based paths that parallel the learning objectives outlined in the standards for biology. It includes seven short videos designed specifically for classroom use, which can be streamed at no cost or purchased on DVD. Many important questions remain at the heart of evolutionary biology, such as the factors that trigger evolution and how fast it occurs. This is particularly true for humans' evolution, where it was difficult to reconcile religious beliefs that held that humanity has a unique place in creation and a soul with the idea that innate physical traits were derived from Apes. There are a myriad of other ways in which evolution can take place, with natural selection as the most widely accepted theory. However, scientists also study other types of evolution such as mutation, genetic drift, and sexual selection, among others. Although many scientific fields of study conflict with literal interpretations in religious texts, evolution biology has been a source of intense debate and resistance from religious fundamentalists. While some religions have been able to reconcile their beliefs with the theories of evolution, other religions have not.