The Top Evolution Site Gurus Do Three Things
Evolution Site – Teaching About Evolution Despite the best efforts of biology educators, misconceptions about evolution remain. Pop science nonsense has led people to believe that biologists aren't believers in evolution. This site, which is a companion to the PBS series It provides teachers with materials which support evolution education and avoid the kinds of misinformation that can undermine it. It's organized in the “bread crumb” format to make navigation and orientation easier. Definitions It's difficult to teach evolution well. It is often misunderstood by non-scientists and even scientists have been guilty of using an interpretation that is confusing the issue. 에볼루션 사이트 is particularly applicable to discussions on the meaning of the word itself. Therefore, it is important to define terms used in evolutionary biology. Understanding Evolution's website does this in a straightforward and useful way. The site is both a companion 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 like common ancestor and the gradual process. These terms help to define the nature of evolution as well as its relationship to other scientific concepts. The website provides a summary of the manner that evolution has been examined. This information can be used to dispel misconceptions that have been created by creationists. It is also possible to find the glossary of terms used in evolutionary biology. These terms include: Adaptation is the tendency of heritable traits to become more suited to the environment. This is a result of natural selection. It occurs when organisms that are better adapted characteristics are more likely to survive and reproduce than those with less adapted characteristics. Common ancestor: The most recent common ancestor of two or more different species. The common ancestor can be identified through analyzing the DNA of the species. Deoxyribonucleic acid: A large biological molecule that contains information needed for cell replication. The information is stored in nucleotide sequences, which are strung into long chains, referred to as chromosomes. Mutations are responsible for the creation of new genetic information inside cells. Coevolution is a relationship between two species in which evolutionary changes in one species are influenced by evolutionary changes in the other. Examples of coevolution include the interaction between predator and prey or the parasite and the host. Origins Species (groups of individuals that can interbreed) develop through an array of natural changes in the traits of their offspring. The changes can be triggered by a variety of factors that include natural selection, genetic drift and mixing of genes. The development of new species can take thousands of years. Environmental circumstances, such as climate changes or competition for food or habitat can impede or accelerate the process. The Evolution site tracks the evolution of a variety of species of plants and animals over time, focusing on the major transitions that occurred in the history of each group. It also focuses on the evolutionary origin of humans and humans, a subject that is particularly important for students to comprehend. When Darwin wrote the Origin in 1859, only a handful of antediluvian human fossils had been discovered. The famous skullcap, along with the associated bones were discovered in 1856 in the Little Feldhofer Grotto of Germany. It is now known as an early Homo neanderthalensis. It is unlikely that Darwin was aware of the skullcap, which was published in 1858, which was a year following the initial edition of The Origin. While the site focuses on biology, it also includes a good deal of information on geology and paleontology. One of the most appealing features on the site are a timeline of events that illustrate the way in which climatic and geological conditions have changed over time, and an interactive map of the geographical distribution of some of the fossil groups featured on the site. The site is a companion to the PBS television series, but it can also be used as a resource by teachers and students. The site is well-organized and provides easy links to the introductory content of Understanding Evolution (developed under the National Science Foundation's assistance) and the more specific features of the museum website. These hyperlinks make it easier to move from the cartoon-style Understanding Evolution pages into the more sophisticated worlds of research science. Particularly there are links to John Endler's experiments using guppies that illustrate the importance of ecology in evolutionary theory. Diversity The evolution of life on Earth has produced a diversity of animals, plants, and insects. Paleobiology is the study of these creatures in their geographical context and offers many advantages over the modern observational and research methods of examining evolutionary phenomena. In addition to exploring processes and events that occur regularly or over a lengthy period of time, paleobiology allows to study the relative abundance of different species of organisms and their distribution throughout geological time. The site is divided into various pathways to understanding evolution which include “Evolution 101,” which takes the viewer on a line 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 theory's history. Each of the other major sections of the Evolution site is equally well created, with resources that can support a variety of different pedagogical levels and curriculum levels. In addition to the general textual content, the site also has an array of interactive and multimedia resources including videos, animations and virtual laboratories. The content is presented in a nested bread crumb-like fashion that helps with navigation and orientation within the vast web site. The page “Coral Reef Connections” For instance, the page “Coral Reef Connections” provides an overview of the relationships between corals and their interactions with other organisms and then zooms in on one clam that can communicate with its neighbors and respond to changes in conditions of the water that occur at the reef level. This page, as well as the other multidisciplinary, multimedia and interactive pages on the site, provide an excellent introduction to the broad spectrum of topics in evolutionary biology. The material includes a discussion on the role of natural selectivity and the concept of phylogenetics which is a crucial tool to understand evolutionary change. Evolutionary Theory Evolution is an underlying thread that connects all branches of biology. A wide selection of resources helps teachers teach evolution across all life science disciplines. One resource, the companion to PBS's television series Understanding Evolution is an excellent example of an Web page that provides the depth and the wide range of educational resources. The site offers a variety of interactive learning modules. It also features a nested “bread crumb” structure that allows students to transition from the cartoon style of Understanding Evolution to elements on this large Web site closer to the field of research science. For example, an animation introducing the notion of genetic inheritance leads to a page highlighting John Endler's experiments in artificial selection with guppies in native ponds of Trinidad. Another useful resource is the Evolution Library on this site, which has an extensive collection of multimedia resources that are related to evolution. The content is organized into curriculum-based paths that parallel the learning objectives outlined in the standards for biology. It contains seven short videos designed for classroom use. They can be viewed online or purchased as DVDs. Many important questions remain at the heart of evolutionary biology, such as what triggers evolution and how fast it occurs. This is especially applicable to human evolution where it's been difficult to reconcile the idea that the physical traits of humans were derived from apes and religious beliefs that claim that humanity is unique among living things and holds a a special place in creation with soul. In addition, there are a number of ways that evolution can occur, with natural selection being the most widely accepted theory. However scientists also study different kinds of evolution like genetic drift, mutation, and sexual selection, among others. While many fields of scientific study have a conflict with the literal interpretations of religious texts, the concept of evolution biology has been the subject of intense debate and opposition from religious fundamentalists. While certain religions have been able to reconcile their beliefs with the ideas of evolution, other religions have not.