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Evolution Site – Teaching About Evolution Despite the best efforts of biology educators, misconceptions persist about the evolution. People who have been exposed to the nonsense of pop science often believe that biologists claim they do not believe in evolution. This rich website – companion to the PBS series It provides teachers with materials which support evolution education and avoids the kinds of misinformation that can make it difficult to understand. It's laid out in the “bread crumb” format to aid in navigation and orientation. Definitions Evolution is a complex and difficult subject matter to teach effectively. Many non-scientists are unable to grasp the concept and some scientists use a definition that confuses it. This is particularly relevant when discussing the meaning of the words themselves. As such, it is essential to define terms used in evolutionary biology. Understanding Evolution's website helps you define these terms in a straightforward and useful manner. The site is a companion to the series that first aired in 2001, but it can also function as an independent resource. The content is presented in a way that aids navigation and orientation. The site defines terms such as common ancestor, the gradual process, and adaptation. These terms help define the nature and significance of evolution to other concepts in science. The site then offers an overview of how the concept of evolution has been vetted and validated. This information can be used to dispel the myths that have been engendered by creationists. You can also access a glossary which contains terms used in evolutionary biology. These terms include: Adaptation is the tendency of heritable traits to become more suited to the environment. This is the result of natural selection. Organisms with better-adapted characteristics are more likely than those with less adaptable traits to reproduce and survive. Common ancestor (also known as common ancestor) The most recent ancestral ancestor shared by two or more species. The common ancestor can be identified by studying the DNA of these species. Deoxyribonucleic acid: A huge biological molecule that contains information necessary for cell replication. The information is stored in nucleotides arranged in sequences that are strung together to form long chains, referred to as chromosomes. Mutations are the cause of new genetic information in cells. Coevolution is a relationship between two species where evolutionary changes in one species are dependent on evolutionary changes in the other. Examples of coevolution include the interactions between predator and prey, or host and parasite. Origins Species (groups of individuals who can interbreed) change through 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 new species can take thousands of years. Environmental conditions, like climate changes or competition for food resources and habitat can slow or speed up the process. The Evolution site tracks through time the evolution of various animal and plant groups and focuses on major changes in each group's past. It also focuses on the evolutionary history of humans and humans, a subject that is especially important for students to know. When Darwin wrote the Origin, only a handful of antediluvian human fossils had been discovered. The famous skullcap, with the bones that accompanied it were discovered in 1856 in the Little Feldhofer Grotto of Germany. It is now recognized as an early Homo neanderthalensis. Although the skullcap was not published until 1858, one year after the first edition of the Origin was published, it's extremely unlikely that Darwin had heard or seen of it. The site is primarily an online biology resource however it also includes lots of information about geology and paleontology. 에볼루션 코리아 offers several features that are particularly impressive, including the timeline of how 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 to the PBS television series but it also stands on its own as an excellent resource for teachers and students. The site is well-organized and offers clear links between the introductory material in Understanding Evolution (developed with support from the National Science Foundation) and the more sophisticated elements of the museum Web site. These hyperlinks make it easy to transition 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 of ecology in evolutionary theory. Diversity The evolution of life on Earth has resulted in a variety of plants, animals, and insects. Paleobiology, the study of these creatures within their natural environment is a superior method of study over the current observational or experimental methods for studying evolutionary phenomena. Paleobiology can examine not only the process and events that take place frequently or over time, but also the distribution and frequency of different species of animals in space throughout geological time. The website is divided into a variety of pathways to understanding evolution that include “Evolution 101,” which takes the viewer on a liner path through the nature of science and the evidence supporting the theory of evolution. The path also reveals the most 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, and includes materials that can be used to support a variety of curriculum levels and teaching styles. In addition to general textual content, the site offers an array of multimedia and interactive resources, such as video clips, animations, and virtual labs. The content is presented in a nested bread crumb-like fashion that helps with navigation and orientation within the large Web site. For instance, the page “Coral Reef Connections” provides an overview of the relationships between corals and their interactions with other organisms. Then, it narrows down to a single clam that is able to communicate with its neighbours and respond to changes in water conditions that occur at the reef level. This page, as well as the other multidisciplinary multimedia and interactive pages, provides an excellent introduction to the many areas of evolutionary biology. The content includes a discussion on the role of natural selectivity and the concept of phylogenetics analysis as a key tool to understand evolutionary changes. Evolutionary Theory Evolution is a common thread that is found throughout all branches of biology. A vast collection of books helps in teaching evolution across all disciplines of life sciences. One resource, the companion to PBS's television show Understanding Evolution is an excellent example of a Web page that offers both depth and broadness in terms of educational resources. The site has a wide array of interactive learning modules. It also has an encased “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 world of research science. An animation that introduces the concept of genetics is linked to a page highlighting John Endler's artificial-selection experiments with guppies on native ponds in Trinidad. Another helpful resource is the Evolution Library on this site, which contains an extensive collection of multimedia items that are related to evolution. The content is organized according to the form of curriculum-based pathways that are in line with the learning objectives outlined in biology standards. It contains seven short videos that are designed for use in classrooms. These are available to stream or purchase as DVDs. Many important questions remain at the heart of evolutionary biology, including what causes evolution to occur and how fast it occurs. This is especially relevant to human evolution, where it has been difficult to reconcile that the innate physical characteristics of humans derived from apes and religious beliefs that hold that humanity is unique among living things and has an exclusive place in the creation with a soul. There are also a number of other ways in which evolution could occur, with natural selection as the most popular theory. However, scientists also study other types of evolution such as genetic drift, mutation, and sexual selection, among others. While many scientific fields of study have a conflict with the literal interpretations of religious texts, the concept of evolution biology has been the subject of intense controversy and opposition from religious fundamentalists. While certain religions have been able to reconcile their beliefs with the notions of evolution, other religions have not.