10 Great Books On Evolution Site
Evolution Site - Teaching About Evolution
Despite the best efforts by biology educators, there are still a lot of misconceptions regarding evolution. People who have absorbed the nonsense of pop science often believe that biologists claim they do not believe in evolution.
This site, a companion to the PBS program that provides teachers with resources that support the evolution of education while avoiding the types of misconceptions that can hinder it. It's laid out in a "bread crumb" format to make navigation and orientation easier.
Definitions
Evolution is a complicated and difficult subject to teach well. Many non-scientists are unable to grasp the concept and some scientists employ a definition that confuses it. This is particularly applicable to debates about the definition of the word itself.
It is therefore important to define the terms used in evolutionary biology. The website for the PBS show, Understanding Evolution, does this in a clear and useful manner. The site is a companion site to the show which first aired in 2001, but can also function as an independent resource. The content is presented in an organized way that makes it easy to navigate and understand.
The site defines terms such as common ancestor and the gradual process. These terms help define the nature and relationship of evolution to other scientific concepts. The site also provides an overview of how the concept of evolution has been tested and verified. This information can be used to dispel myths that have been engendered by the creationists.
You can also access a glossary that contains terms used in evolutionary biology. These terms include:
Adaptation: The tendency of heritable characteristics to become more adaptable to a specific environment. This is a result of natural selection. Organisms with more adaptable traits are more likely than those with less-adapted characteristics to survive and reproduce.
Common ancestor: The most recent common ancestor of two or more different species. By studying the DNA of these species, it is possible to identify the common ancestor.
Deoxyribonucleic acid: A huge biological molecule that holds the information needed for cell replication. The information is stored in nucleotide sequences which are strung into long chains known as chromosomes. Mutations are responsible for the creation of new genetic information within cells.
Coevolution is the relationship between two species where evolutionary changes of one species influence evolutionary changes of the other. Coevolution is evident in the interaction of predator and prey, or parasites and hosts.
Origins
Species (groups that can crossbreed) change through a series natural changes in their offspring's traits. The causes of these changes are various factors, including natural selection, gene drift, and mixing of the gene pool. The evolution of new species can take thousands of years. Environmental circumstances, such as changes in the climate or competition for food and habitat can slow or speed up the process.
The Evolution site follows the emergence of various groups of animals and plants, focusing on major transitions in each group's past. It also examines the evolution of humans as a subject of particular importance for students.
Darwin's Origin was written in 1859, when just a handful of antediluvian fossils of humans had been found. The most famous among them was the skullcap and the associated bones discovered in 1856 in the Little Feldhofer Grotto in Germany which is now believed to be an early Homo neanderthalensis. sneak a peek at this web-site is highly unlikely that Darwin knew about the skullcap, which was first published in 1858, a year after the publication of the first edition of The Origin. Origin.
The site is primarily one of biology however, it also has many details on paleontology and geology. The site offers a number of features that are especially impressive, including the timeline of how geological and climate conditions have changed over time. It also includes an interactive map that shows the location of fossil groups.
Although the site is a companion piece to the PBS television series, it also stands on its own as a great source for teachers and students. The site is well organized and provides clear links between the introduction content 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 cartoon-like style of the Understanding Evolution pages to the more sophisticated world of research science. Particularly there are 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 led to a wide variety of animals, plants and insects. Paleobiology is the study of these creatures in their natural environment, has many advantages over modern observational or research methods of studying evolutionary phenomena. Paleobiology can examine not only the process and events that happen frequently or over time, but also the relative abundance and distribution of different groups of animals in space over the course of geological time.
The site is divided into various routes that can be taken to learn about evolution. One of the paths, "Evolution 101," takes the viewer through the nature and evidence of evolution. The course also focuses on the most common misconceptions about evolution, as well as the evolution of thought.
Each of the main sections of the Evolution website is equally well-designed, with materials that can be used to support a variety of curriculum levels and teaching styles. In addition to the standard textual content, the site also has a wide range of multimedia and interactive resources like videos, animations and virtual laboratories. The breadcrumb-like organization of the content assists with navigation and orientation on the vast web site.
For example the page "Coral Reef Connections" provides an overview of coral relationships and their interactions with other organisms. It then zooms in on a single clam that can communicate with its neighbors and react to changes in the water conditions that occur 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 also includes an overview of the importance of natural selection as well as the concept of phylogenetic analysis which is an important tool for understanding the evolution of changes.
Evolutionary Theory
For biology students, evolution is a key thread that binds all the branches of the field. A rich collection supports teaching evolution across the life science disciplines.
One resource, a companion to the PBS television series Understanding Evolution, is an outstanding example of an Web site that offers both the depth and breadth of its educational resources. The site has a wide array of interactive learning modules. It also has an "bread crumb structure" that helps students move away from the cartoon-like style that is used in Understanding Evolution and onto elements on this large website more closely linked to the realms of research science. An animation that introduces students to the concept of genetics is linked to a page highlighting John Endler's experiments with artificial selection using Guppies living in ponds native to Trinidad.
The Evolution Library on this website contains a large multimedia library of resources that are associated with evolution. The content is organized into the form of curriculum-based pathways that are in line with the learning objectives set out in the biology standards. It contains seven short videos that are designed for classroom use. These can be streamed or purchased as DVDs.
A variety of crucial questions remain in the midst of evolutionary biology, including what triggers evolution and the speed at which it occurs. This is especially true for human evolution, which has made it difficult to reconcile the idea that the physical characteristics of humans evolved from apes and religions that believe that humans are unique in the universe and has a special place in creation, with a soul.
Additionally there are a variety of ways that evolution can occur and natural selection is the most widely accepted theory. Scientists also study different types like mutation, genetic drift, and sexual selection.
While many scientific fields of study conflict with literal interpretations found in religious texts, the concept of evolution biology has been a subject of intense debate and opposition from religious fundamentalists. While certain religions have been able to reconcile their beliefs with the notions of evolution, other religions haven't.