Evolution Site - Teaching About Evolution
Despite the best efforts of biology teachers, there are still misconceptions regarding evolution. Pop science fiction has led a lot of people to think that biologists don't believe in evolution.
This rich Web site, which is a complement to the PBS program, provides teachers with materials that support the evolution of 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
Evolution is a complicated and challenging subject to teach effectively. Non-scientists often misunderstand the subject and some scientists use a definition which confuses it. This is especially true when it comes to discussions on the definition of the word itself.
Therefore, 에볼루션 카지노 www.evolutionkr.kr is crucial to define the terms that are used in evolutionary biology. Understanding Evolution's website does this in an easy and helpful way. The website is a companion to the show that premiered in 2001, but can also function as an independent resource. The material is presented in a nested manner which aids navigation and orientation.
The site defines terms like common ancestor, the gradual process and adaptation. These terms help define the nature and relationship of evolution to other scientific concepts. The site gives a comprehensive overview of the way that evolution has been tested. This information can be used to dispel the myths that have been propagated by the creationists.
You can also access a glossary which contains terms that are used in evolutionary biology. These terms include:
The process of adaptation is the tendency of heritable traits to be more suited to the environment. This is the result of natural selection. Organisms with better-adapted characteristics are more likely than those with less-adapted traits to reproduce and survive.
Common ancestor: The latest common ancestor of two or more species. By analyzing DNA from these species it is possible to determine the common ancestor.
Deoxyribonucleic Acid: A large biological molecular that holds the information required for cell replication. The information is stored in nucleotide sequences that are strung into long chains known as chromosomes. Mutations are the reason behind the creation of new genetic information within cells.
Coevolution is the relationship between two species where evolutionary changes of one species influence evolutionary changes of the other. Coevolution can be seen in the interaction of predator and prey, or parasites and hosts.
Origins
Species (groups of individuals that can interbreed) change through an array of natural changes in the characteristics of their offspring. These changes can be caused by various factors, including natural selection, gene drift and mixing of the gene pool. The development of a new species could take thousands of years and the process can be slowed or increased due to environmental conditions, such as climate change or competition for food or habitat.
The Evolution site tracks the evolution of various groups of animals and plants over time with a focus on the key shifts that occurred throughout the history of each group. It also examines the evolution of humans and is a subject that is particularly important for students.
When Darwin wrote the Origin in 1859, only a handful of antediluvian human fossils had been found. One of them was the infamous skullcap and the associated bones discovered in 1856 in the Little Feldhofer Grotto in Germany, which is now known to be an early Homo neanderthalensis. Although the skullcap was not published until 1858, one year before the first edition of the Origin appeared, it is highly unlikely that Darwin had seen or heard of it.
While the site is focused on biology, it contains a wealth of information on geology and paleontology. One of the most appealing features of the website are a timeline of events which show the way in which climatic and geological conditions have changed over time, as well as a map of the geographical distribution of some fossil groups that are featured on the site.
While the site is a companion to the PBS television show but it also stands on its own as a great resource for teachers and students. The site is well-organized, and provides clear links to the introduction information of Understanding Evolution (developed under the National Science Foundation's funding) and the more specific features on the museum's website. These links facilitate the transition from the cartoon-like style of the Understanding Evolution pages to the more sophisticated world of research science. There are links to John Endler's experiments with guppies, which demonstrate 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 geological environment, has many advantages over modern observational or experimental methods of studying evolutionary phenomena. Paleobiology can examine not only processes and events that occur regularly or over time but also the relative abundance and distribution of various animal groups across the geological time.
The site is divided into several optional pathways to understanding evolution, including "Evolution 101," which takes the viewer on a line through the science of nature and the evidence to support the theory of evolution. The path also reveals common misconceptions about evolution as well as the history of evolutionary thought.
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. The site offers a wide array of interactive and multimedia resources, including video clips, animations and virtual labs in addition to general textual content. The content is presented in a nested bread crumb fashion that aids navigation and orientation within the vast web site.
For example, the page "Coral Reef Connections" provides an overview of coral relationships and their interaction with other organisms, then zooms in on a single clam that can communicate with its neighbors and react to changes in the water conditions at the reef level. This page, as well as the other multidisciplinary multimedia and interactive pages, gives a good introduction to a variety of topics in evolutionary biology. The information also includes an overview of the importance of natural selection as well as the concept of phylogenetic analysis which is a key tool for understanding the evolution of changes.
Evolutionary Theory
Evolution is a common thread that is found throughout 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 show Understanding Evolution is an excellent example of an Web site that provides the depth and the breadth in terms of its educational resources. The site offers a variety of interactive learning modules. It also features a "bread crumb structure" that assists students in moving away from the cartoon-like style that is used in Understanding Evolution and onto elements on this large website more closely connected to the worlds of research science. For instance an animation that explains the idea of genetic inheritance connects to a page that focuses on John Endler's experiments with artificial selection with guppies in native ponds of Trinidad.
Another useful resource is the Evolution Library on this web site, which contains an extensive multimedia library of items connected to evolution. The content is organized according to curricula-based pathways that correspond to the learning goals established in biology standards. It contains seven videos specifically designed for use in classrooms. These are available to stream or purchase as DVDs.
Evolutionary biology is still an area of study with a lot of important questions, including the causes of evolution and the speed at which it happens. This is particularly relevant to human evolution, where it's been difficult to reconcile the notion that the physical traits of humans evolved from apes, and the religions that believe that humans are unique among living things and has an enviable place in creation with soul.
In addition there are a variety of ways that evolution could be triggered, with natural selection being the most popular theory. Scientists also study different types such as genetic drift, and sexual selection.
Many fields of inquiry are in conflict with the literal interpretations of religious texts Evolutionary biology has been the subject of fierce debate and opposition from religious fundamentalists. While certain religions have been able to reconcile their beliefs with the theories of evolution, others have not.