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Evolution Site – Teaching About Evolution Despite the best efforts of biology teachers, misinformation about evolution remain. People who have been exposed to popular science myths often assume that biologists don't believe in evolution. This rich Web site, a companion to the PBS program, provides teachers with materials that promote evolution education while avoiding the types of misconceptions which undermine it. It's organized in a “bread crumb” format to aid in navigation and orientation. Definitions It's difficult to properly teach evolution. 에볼루션 룰렛 is often misunderstood even by non-scientists, and even scientists use an interpretation that is confusing the issue. This is particularly relevant to debates about the meaning of the word itself. As such, it is important to define terms used in evolutionary biology. The website for the PBS show, Understanding Evolution, does this in a simple and efficient manner. The site is a companion to the show which first aired in 2001, but it also functions as an independent resource. The content is presented in a nested manner that aids navigation and orientation. The site defines terms such as common ancestor, gradual process, and adaptation. These terms help frame the nature of evolution and its relationship to other concepts in science. The site also provides an overview of how the concept of evolution has been researched and verified. This information will help to dispel the myths created by creationists. You can also access a glossary that contains terms used in evolutionary biology. These terms include: Adaptation: The tendency for hereditary traits to become more adaptable to a specific environment. This is a result of natural selection, which occurs when organisms that have better-adapted traits are more likely survive and reproduce than those with less adaptable traits. Common ancestor (also called common ancestor) is the most recent ancestor shared by two or more species. The common ancestor can be identified through analyzing the DNA of the species. Deoxyribonucleic Acid: A large biological molecular that contains the information needed for cell replication. The information is stored in nucleotide sequences, which are strung into long chains known as chromosomes. Mutations are the reason behind the creation of new genetic information inside cells. Coevolution is a relationship between two species, where the evolution of one species influence evolutionary changes of the other. Examples of coevolution are the interactions between predator and prey or host and parasite. Origins Species (groups of individuals that are able to interbreed) evolve through a series of natural changes in the traits of their offspring. The causes of these changes are many factors, such as natural selection, gene drift and mixing of the gene pool. The development of new species can take thousands of years. Environmental circumstances, such as climate changes or competition for food or habitat, can slow or accelerate 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 examines the evolution of humans as a subject of particular importance to students. Darwin's Origin was written in 1859, when only a few antediluvian fossils of humans were discovered. The famous skullcap, 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. While the skullcap wasn't published until 1858, which was a year before the first edition of the Origin was published, it is extremely unlikely that Darwin had ever heard of it. The site is mostly an online biology resource however it also includes a lot of information on geology and paleontology. One of the most appealing features of the Web site are a timeline of events which show how geological and climatic conditions have changed over time, as well as an interactive map of the geographical distribution of some fossil groups listed on the site. The site is a companion for a PBS TV series but it could also be used as an educational source for teachers and students. The site is well-organized and provides clear links to the introductory information of Understanding Evolution (developed under the National Science Foundation's funding) as well as the more specialized features of the museum website. These hyperlinks make it easy to transition from the cartoon-style Understanding Evolution pages into the more sophisticated worlds of research science. There are also links to John Endler's experiments with guppies, which demonstrate the importance of ecology in evolutionary theory. Diversity The evolution of life has resulted in an array of animals, plants and insects. Paleobiology is the study of these creatures in their natural environment and has a number of advantages over the current observational and experimental methods for analyzing evolutionary processes. Paleobiology focuses on not only the process and events that happen regularly or over time but also the relative abundance and distribution of different species of animals across geological time. The site is divided into a variety of paths to learning evolution which include “Evolution 101,” which takes the viewer on a liner path through the nature of science and the evidence that supports the theory of evolution. The path also reveals common misconceptions about evolution and the evolution of thought. Each of the other main sections of the Evolution site is equally created, with resources that can be used to support a range of educational levels and pedagogical styles. The site has a range of interactive and multimedia content which include animations, video clips and virtual laboratories, in addition to its 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. For example the page “Coral Reef Connections” gives a brief overview of the relationships between corals and their interaction with other organisms, then narrows down to a single clam that can communicate with its neighbours and respond to changes in the water conditions that take place at the reef level. This page, along with the other multidisciplinary multimedia and interactive pages, gives a good introduction to a variety of topics in evolutionary biology. The content includes an overview of the role of natural selectivity and the concept of phylogenetics, an important tool to understand evolutionary changes. Evolutionary Theory Evolution is an underlying thread that runs through all branches of biology. A rich collection supports teaching 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 provides depth and breadth in its educational resources. The site features a wide range of interactive learning modules. It also features an encased “bread crumb” structure that allows students to move from the cartoon-like style of Understanding Evolution to elements on this massive website that are more closely linked to the world of research science. An animation that introduces students to the concept of genetics links to a page highlighting John Endler's artificial-selection experiments with Guppies living in ponds native to Trinidad. Another helpful resource is the Evolution Library on this site, which has an extensive collection of multimedia assets connected 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 includes seven short videos that are intended for use in the classroom. They can be streamed or purchased as DVDs. Many important questions remain in the midst of evolutionary biology, such as what causes evolution to occur and how fast it happens. This is particularly applicable to human evolution where it's been difficult to reconcile the notion that the physical characteristics of humans evolved from apes with religious beliefs that claim that humans are unique in the universe and has an enviable place in creation, with soul. There are also a number of other ways evolution can occur and natural selection being the most well-known theory. However scientists also study different types of evolution such as genetic drift, mutation, and sexual selection, among other things. While many fields of scientific study conflict with literal interpretations in religious texts, evolution biology has been a source of intense debate and opposition from religious fundamentalists. Certain religions have reconciled their beliefs with evolution, while others haven't.