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Evolution Site – Teaching About Evolution Despite the best efforts of biology teachers, there are still misconceptions about the evolution. Pop science nonsense has led many people to believe that biologists don't believe evolution. This site, which is a companion to the PBS series offers teachers with resources that promote evolution education and avoid the kinds of myths that undermine it. It's arranged in a nested “bread crumb” format to facilitate navigation and orientation. Definitions It's difficult to effectively teach evolution. People who are not scientists often have a difficult time understanding the subject and some scientists use a definition that confuses it. This is particularly relevant when it comes to the meaning of the words themselves. It is essential to define terms that are used in evolutionary biology. Understanding Evolution's website provides this in an easy and helpful manner. The site is a companion to the show which first aired in 2001, but is also an independent resource. The information is presented in an organized manner that makes it simpler to navigate and comprehend. The site defines terms such as common ancestor and the gradual process. These terms help to define the nature and significance of evolution to other concepts in science. The website provides a summary of the manner the concept of evolution has been tested. This information can be used to dispel misconceptions that have been engendered by the creationists. It is also possible to get a glossary of terms used in evolutionary biology. These terms include: Adaptation: The tendency for heritable traits to become better adaptable to a specific environment. This is the result of natural selection. Organisms that have better-adapted characteristics are more likely than those with less-adapted characteristics to survive and reproduce. Common ancestor (also known as common ancestor) The most recent ancestor shared by two or more species. The common ancestor can be identified by studying the DNA of those species. Deoxyribonucleic acid: A massive biological molecule that holds the information required for cell replication. The information is stored in nucleotide sequences which are strung into long chains, referred to as chromosomes. Mutations are the reason behind the creation of new genetic information inside cells. Coevolution is a relationship between two species in which evolutionary changes in one species are dependent on evolutionary changes in the other. Examples of coevolution include the interaction between predator and prey, or the parasite and the host. Origins Species (groups that can crossbreed) develop through a series of natural changes in their offspring's traits. Changes can be caused by many factors, such as natural selection, gene drift, and mixing of the gene pool. The evolution of a new species may take thousands of years, and the process can be slowed down or accelerated due to environmental conditions, such as climate change or the competition for food or habitat. The Evolution site traces through time the evolution of different animal and plant groups with a focus on major changes in each group's past. It also examines the human evolutionary roots which is crucial for students to comprehend. Darwin's Origin was published in 1859, when just a few antediluvian fossils of humans were discovered. The skullcap that is famous, along with the bones that accompanied it, was discovered in 1856 in the Little Feldhofer Grotto of Germany. It is now regarded as an early Homo neanderthalensis. It is unlikely that Darwin was aware of the skullcap when it was published in 1858, which was a year after the first edition of The Origin. Origin. The site is primarily one of biology, but it also contains lots of information about paleontology and geology. One of the most appealing features of the Web site are a series of timelines which show how geological and climatic conditions have changed over time, and an outline of the distribution of some fossil groups that are featured on the site. Although the site is a companion piece to the PBS television series however, it can stand on its own as a great resource 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 assistance) and the more specialized features of the museum website. These hyperlinks make it easier to move from the cartoon-style Understanding Evolution pages into the more sophisticated realms of research science. Particularly there are hyperlinks to John Endler's research with Guppies that demonstrate the importance of ecology in evolutionary theory. Diversity The evolution of life on Earth has led to a wide variety of animals, plants and insects. Paleobiology is the study of these creatures within their natural environment and has numerous advantages over the current observational and experimental methods of examining evolutionary phenomena. In addition to studying processes and events that take place regularly or over a lengthy period of time, paleobiology can be used to analyze the relative abundance of various groups of organisms and their distribution throughout the course of geological time. The site is divided up into various options to learn about evolution. One of the paths, “Evolution 101,” guides the user through the nature and evidence of evolution. The path also explores misconceptions about evolution and also the history of evolutionary thinking. Each of the main sections on the Evolution website is equally well-developed, with materials that support a variety curriculum levels and teaching styles. In addition to general textual content, the site offers an array of multimedia and interactive resources like videos, animations, and virtual labs. The breadcrumb-like structure of the content assists with navigation and orientation on the large web site. The page “Coral Reef Connections”, for example, provides an overview of the coral's relationships and interactions with other organisms, and then zooms in to one clam, which can communicate with its neighbors and react to changes in conditions of the water that occur at the reef level. This page, along with the other multidisciplinary, multimedia, and interactive pages on the site, provide an excellent introduction to a wide variety of topics in evolutionary biology. The information also includes an explanation of the role of natural selection as well as the concept of phylogenetic analysis, which is an important tool for understanding the evolution of changes. Evolutionary Theory For biology students the concept of evolution is a major thread that connects all the branches of the field. A rich collection supports teaching evolution across all disciplines of life science. One resource, the companion to PBS's TV series Understanding Evolution is an excellent example of an Web page that provides depth as well as wide range of educational resources. The site offers a range of interactive learning modules. It also features a nested “bread crumb” structure that helps students move from the cartoon style of Understanding Evolution to elements on this massive website that are more closely linked to the field of research science. For instance, an animation introducing the notion of genetic inheritance leads to a page highlighting John Endler's artificial selection experiments using guppies in the ponds of his native country of Trinidad. The Evolution Library on this website has a huge multimedia library of assets related with evolution. The content is organized into curricula-based paths that correspond to the learning objectives outlined in biology standards. It contains seven videos designed specifically for use in the classroom, and can be streamed for free or purchased on DVD. Evolutionary biology is a field of study that has many important questions, including what causes evolution and the speed at which it occurs. This is particularly true for human evolution, where it's been difficult to reconcile the idea that the physical characteristics of humans were derived from apes and religions that believe that humans are unique among living things and has an exclusive place in the creation with a soul. There are mouse click the up coming internet site of other ways in which evolution can take place and natural selection being the most popular theory. Scientists also study different types such as genetic drift and sexual selection. While many scientific fields of inquiry have a conflict with literal interpretations of religious texts Evolutionary biology has been the subject of intense controversy and resistance from religious fundamentalists. While certain religions have been able to reconcile their beliefs with the notions of evolution, other religions haven't.