Why All The Fuss? Evolution Site?
Evolution Site – Teaching About Evolution Despite the best efforts of biology teachers, there are still misconceptions about evolution. Pop science nonsense has led people to believe that biologists aren't believers in evolution. This rich Web site, a companion to the PBS program that provides teachers with resources that support the evolution of education, while avoiding the kinds of misconceptions which make it difficult to understand. It's arranged in a nested “bread crumb” format for ease of navigation and orientation. Definitions It's not easy to properly teach evolution. Many non-scientists are unable to grasp the concept, and some scientists even use a definition which confuses it. This is especially applicable to debates about the definition of the word itself. It is crucial to define the terms used in evolutionary biology. The website for the PBS show, Understanding Evolution, does this in a clear and useful way. The site is a companion to the series that first aired in 2001, but it also functions as an independent resource. The material is presented in a way that aids navigation and orientation. The site defines terms like common ancestor and the gradual process. These terms help to define the nature and significance of evolution to other scientific concepts. The site then offers an overview of how the concept of evolution has been researched and validated. This information can be used to dispel the myths that have been created by creationists. You can also access a glossary that includes terms used in evolutionary biology. These terms include: Adaptation: The tendency for heritable characteristics to become more adaptable to a specific environment. This is the result of natural selection. Organisms with better-adapted traits are more likely than those with less-adapted traits to reproduce and survive. Common ancestor: The latest common ancestor of two or more distinct species. The common ancestor can be identified through analyzing the DNA of those species. Deoxyribonucleic acid: A large biological molecule that contains the information required for cell replication. The information is contained in a sequence of nucleotides that are strung together into long chains, referred to as chromosomes. Mutations are the source of new genetic information in cells. Coevolution is a relation between two species, where the evolutionary changes of one species are influenced by evolutionary changes in the other. Coevolution is evident in the interaction of predator and prey, or parasites and hosts. Origins Species (groups which can interbreed) develop through a series natural changes in their offspring's traits. The changes can be caused by a variety of factors such as natural selection, genetic drift, and mixing of gene pools. The evolution of new species can take thousands of years. Environmental conditions, like climate changes or competition for food or habitat, can slow or accelerate the process. The Evolution site tracks the development of a variety of animal and plant groups through time and focuses on the most significant shifts that occurred throughout the evolution of each group's history. 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 of Species, only a handful of antediluvian human fossils had been found. The famous skullcap, with the bones that accompanied it were 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, a year before the first edition of the Origin appeared, it is very unlikely that Darwin had seen or heard of it. The site is mostly an online biology resource however, it also has lots of information about geology and paleontology. The website has several aspects that are quite impressive, including a timeline of how geological and climate conditions have changed over time. It also has an interactive map that shows the location of fossil groups. The site is a companion to the PBS TV series but it could also be used as a resource by teachers and students. The site is extremely well-organized and offers clear links between the introduction information in Understanding Evolution (developed with support from the National Science Foundation) and the more specialized elements of the museum's web site. These hyperlinks facilitate the move from the enthralling cartoon style of the Understanding Evolution pages to the more sophisticated world of research science. Particularly, there are links to John Endler's experiments using Guppies, which demonstrate the importance of ecology in evolutionary theory. Diversity The evolution of life has resulted in a variety of plants, animals and insects. Paleobiology is the study of these creatures within their geological context is a superior method of study over modern observational or research methods of studying evolutionary processes. Paleobiology focuses on not only processes and events that occur regularly or over time but also the distribution and frequency of various animal groups across geological time. The website is divided into several options to study the subject of evolution. One of the paths, “Evolution 101,” guides the user through the nature and evidence of evolution. The course also focuses on common misconceptions about evolution as well as the evolution of thought. 에볼루션 바카라사이트 of the other sections of the Evolution site is similarly constructed, with materials that support a variety of different pedagogical levels and curriculum levels. In addition to the general textual content, the site features an extensive selection of interactive and multimedia resources like videos, animations, and virtual laboratories. The content is presented in a nested bread crumb-like fashion that helps with navigation and orientation on the web site. For instance the page “Coral Reef Connections” gives a brief overview of the relationships between corals and their interactions with other organisms, then concentrates on a specific clam that is able to communicate with its neighbors and respond to changes in water conditions at the reef level. This page, along with the other multidisciplinary, multimedia and interactive pages on the site, offer an excellent introduction to a wide spectrum of topics in evolutionary biology. The content includes an explanation of the role of natural selectivity and the concept phylogenetics analysis, an important tool for understanding evolutionary changes. Evolutionary Theory For biology students the concept of evolution is a major thread that weaves together all branches of the field. A wide range of resources supports teaching about evolution across the life sciences. One resource, the companion to PBS's television show Understanding Evolution is an excellent example of an Web page that provides the depth and the wide range of educational resources. The site features a wealth of interactive learning modules. It also features a “bread crumb structure” that allows students to move away from the cartoon style that is used in Understanding Evolution and onto elements of this vast website that are closely connected to the realms of research science. For example an animation that explains the concept of genetic inheritance links to a page that highlights John Endler's experiments in artificial selection with guppies from the native ponds of Trinidad. The Evolution Library on this website contains a large multimedia library of resources that are associated to evolution. The content is organized into courses that are based on curriculum and follow the learning objectives set out in the standards for biology. It includes seven short videos designed specifically for classroom use, which can be streamed at no cost or purchased on DVD. A number of important questions remain in the midst of evolutionary biology, including what triggers evolution and how fast it occurs. This is especially true for the evolution of humans, where it was difficult to reconcile religious beliefs that held that humanity has a special place in the creation and a soul with the idea that innate physical traits evolved from the apes. There are a myriad of other ways in which evolution could occur including natural selection, which is the most widely accepted theory. Scientists also study other kinds such as mutation, genetic drift and sexual selection. While many fields of scientific study conflict with the literal interpretations of religious texts, evolution biology has been a source of intense debate and resistance from religious fundamentalists. Certain religions have embraced their beliefs to evolution while others haven't.