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Evolution Site – Teaching About Evolution Despite the best efforts of biology teachers, misinformation about evolution persist. People who have taken in pop science nonsense often assume that biologists do not believe in evolution. This rich Web site – companion to the PBS series It provides teachers with materials which support evolution education and help avoid the kinds of misinformation that can make it difficult to understand. It's arranged in a nested “bread crumb” format to facilitate navigation and orientation. Definitions It's difficult to effectively teach evolution. It is often misunderstood even by non-scientists, and even scientists are guilty of using a definition that confuses the issue. This is especially true when discussing the nature of the words themselves. It is essential to define terms used in evolutionary biology. The website for the PBS show, Understanding Evolution, does this in a clear and helpful way. The site is a companion to the show that premiered in 2001, but can also function as an independent resource. The content is presented in a structured manner that makes it easier to navigate and understand. The site defines terms such as common ancestor (or common ancestor), gradual process and adaptation. These terms help frame the nature and relationship of evolution to other concepts in science. The site then offers an overview of how the concept of evolution has been tested and verified. This information will help to dispel the myths created by creationists. It is also possible to access the glossary of terms used in evolutionary biology. These terms include: Adaptation: The tendency of hereditary traits to become more suited to a particular environment. This is due to natural selection, which occurs when organisms that are better adapted traits are more likely survive and reproduce than those with less adapted characteristics. Common ancestor: The latest common ancestor of two or more distinct species. By analyzing DNA from these species it is possible to determine the common ancestor. Deoxyribonucleic acid: A massive biological molecule that holds the information needed for cell replication. The information is stored in nucleotide sequences which are strung into long chains called chromosomes. Mutations are the cause of new genetic information within cells. Coevolution is a relationship between two species in which evolutionary changes in one species are affected by changes in evolutionary processes in the other. Examples of coevolution are the interactions between predator and prey or the parasite and the host. Origins Species (groups of individuals who can interbreed) evolve through a series 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 a new species can take thousands of years, and the process can be slowed down or accelerated due to environmental conditions, such as climate change or the competition for food or habitat. The Evolution site traces the emergence of a number of different groups of animals and plants over time, focusing on the major changes that took place in the history of each group. 에볼루션 사이트 examines the evolutionary history of humans which is crucial for students to know. When Darwin wrote the Origin, only a handful of antediluvian human fossils had been found. One of them was the infamous skullcap and the associated bones discovered in 1856 at the Little Feldhofer Grotto in Germany, which is now known as an early Homo neanderthalensis. While the skullcap wasn't published until 1858, which was a year before the first edition of the Origin appeared, it is very unlikely that Darwin had heard or seen of it. While the site is focused on biology, it also includes a good deal of information about geology as well as paleontology. One of the most appealing features of the Web site are a set of timelines that show how geological and climatic conditions have changed over time, as well as an interactive map of the distribution of some of the fossil groups featured on the site. The site is a companion to the PBS TV series but it could be used as a source for teachers and students. The site is very well organized and provides clear links between the introductory content in Understanding Evolution (developed with support from the National Science Foundation) and the more specialized elements of the museum's web site. These hyperlinks make it easy to transition from the cartoon-style Understanding Evolution pages into the more sophisticated worlds of research science. In particular there are hyperlinks to John Endler's research with Guppies that demonstrate the importance of ecology in evolutionary theory. Diversity The evolution of life on Earth has produced a diversity of plants, animals, and insects. Paleobiology, the study of these creatures within their geological environment, has many advantages over modern observational or research methods for exploring evolutionary processes. Paleobiology is able to study not only the process and events that take place regularly or over time, but also the distribution and frequency of various animal groups across geological time. The site is divided into various paths to learning evolution that include “Evolution 101,” which takes the user on a linear path through the nature of science and the evidence to support the theory of evolution. The path also explores misconceptions regarding evolution, and also the history of evolutionary thinking. Each of the other main sections of the Evolution site is similarly created, with resources that support a variety of educational levels and pedagogical styles. In addition to the standard textual content, the site also has an array of multimedia and interactive content, such as video clips, animations, and virtual laboratories. The breadcrumb-like organization of the content assists with navigation and orientation on the vast website. For instance the page “Coral Reef Connections” provides a comprehensive overview of coral relationships and their interaction with other organisms. It then concentrates on a specific clam that is able to communicate with its neighbors and react to changes in the water conditions at the level of the reef. This page, as well as the other multidisciplinary interactive and multimedia page s, offers a great introduction to a variety of topics in evolutionary biology. The content also includes an overview of the importance of natural selection and the concept of phylogenetics as a key tool for understanding evolutionary changes. Evolutionary Theory For biology students evolution is a crucial thread that connects all the branches of the field. A wide selection of resources helps teachers teach evolution across all disciplines of life sciences. One resource, which is a companion to the PBS television series Understanding Evolution, is an exceptional example of an Web site that offers both the depth and breadth of its educational resources. The site features a wide range of interactive learning modules. It also features an encased “bread crumb” structure that helps students transition from the cartoon style of Understanding Evolution to elements on this large Web site more closely tied to the field of research science. An animation that introduces students to the concept of genetics, which links to a page about John Endler's artificial-selection experiments with guppies on native ponds in Trinidad. Another useful resource is the Evolution Library on this web site, which has an extensive collection of multimedia resources that are related to evolution. The content is organized into the form of curriculum-based pathways that are in line with the learning objectives set out in biology standards. It includes seven short videos specifically designed for use in classrooms, and can be streamed at no cost or purchased on DVD. Many important questions remain in the midst of evolutionary biology, including what causes evolution to occur and the speed at which it occurs. This is especially applicable to human evolution where it's been difficult to reconcile the notion that the innate physical characteristics of humans evolved from apes with religious beliefs that hold that humanity is unique among living things and holds a an enviable place in creation, with a soul. There are a myriad of other ways in which evolution can take place and natural selection being the most popular theory. However scientists also study different kinds of evolution, such as mutation, genetic drift and sexual selection, among others. While many fields of scientific inquiry have a conflict with literal interpretations of religious texts, evolutionary biology has been the subject of fierce debate and opposition from religious fundamentalists. Certain religions have reconciled their beliefs with evolutionary biology, while others haven't.