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Evolution Site – Teaching About Evolution Despite the best efforts by biology educators, there are still a lot of misconceptions regarding evolution. Pop science fiction has led a lot of people to believe that biologists don't believe evolution. This site, which is a companion to the PBS series It provides teachers with materials that support evolution education and avoid the kinds of misinformation that can make it difficult to understand. It's laid out in a “bread crumb” format to facilitate navigation and orientation. Definitions Evolution is a complicated and difficult subject to teach effectively. Non-scientists often misunderstand the subject, and some scientists even use a definition that confuses it. This is particularly applicable to debates about the definition of the word itself. It is therefore essential to define the terms that are used in evolutionary biology. 바카라 에볼루션 for the PBS show, Understanding Evolution, does this in a clear and useful way. The site is a companion to the show which first aired in 2001, but is also an independent resource. The material is presented in a way that assists in navigation and orientation. The site defines terms like common ancestor and gradual process. These terms help to frame the nature of evolution as well as its relation to other scientific concepts. The site gives a comprehensive overview of the ways that evolution has been examined. This information will help to dispel the myths created by creationists. You can also access a glossary which includes terms that are used in evolutionary biology. These terms include: The process of adaptation is the tendency of heritable traits to be better suited to an environment. This is the result of natural selection. Organisms that have better-adapted characteristics are more likely than those with less adaptable traits to reproduce and survive. Common ancestor (also known as common ancestor): The most recent ancestor shared by two or more species. By analyzing the DNA from these species it is possible to determine the common ancestor. Deoxyribonucleic Acid: A huge 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 source of new genetic information in cells. Coevolution is a relationship between two species where evolutionary changes in one species are dependent on evolutionary changes in the other. Coevolution can be seen in the interactions between predator and prey, or parasite and hosts. Origins Species (groups of individuals who can interbreed) change through natural changes in the characteristics of their offspring. The causes of these changes are many factors, such as natural selection, gene drift and mixing of the gene pool. The evolution of new species can take thousands of years. Environmental circumstances, such as changes in the climate or competition for food or habitat can impede or accelerate the process. The Evolution site follows the evolution of various animal and plant groups with a focus on major changes in each group's history. It also examines the evolutionary origin of humans which is especially important for students to know. When Darwin wrote the Origin in 1859, only a handful of antediluvian human fossils had been discovered. One of them was the infamous skullcap and bones that were discovered in 1856 in the Little Feldhofer Grotto in Germany which is now believed to be an early Homo neanderthalensis. Although the skullcap was not published until 1858, just a year before the first edition of the Origin was published, it's highly unlikely that Darwin had seen or heard of it. While the site focuses on biology, it contains a wealth of information on geology and paleontology. The Web site has several features that are especially impressive, such as a timeline of how geological and climate conditions have changed over time. It also features a map showing the distribution of fossil groups. The site is a companion to a PBS television series, but it could also be used as an educational source for teachers and students. The site is very well-organized and offers clear links between the introductory information in Understanding Evolution (developed with support from the National Science Foundation) and the more sophisticated elements of the museum's web site. These hyperlinks facilitate the move from the engaging cartoon style of the Understanding Evolution pages to the more sophisticated world of research science. There are links to John Endler's experiments with guppies. They illustrate the importance ecology in evolutionary theory. Diversity The evolution of life on Earth has resulted in a variety of animals, plants and insects. Paleobiology is the study of these creatures within their natural environment and has many advantages over modern observational and experimental methods for analyzing evolutionary processes. In addition to exploring processes and events that occur regularly or over a long period of time, paleobiology allows to examine the relative abundance of various species of organisms and their distribution throughout geological time. The website is divided into various paths to learning evolution which include “Evolution 101,” which takes the user on a linear path through the scientific process and the evidence that supports the theory of evolution. The path also explores common misconceptions about evolution and the evolution theory's history. Each of the main sections on the Evolution website is equally well-developed, with materials that can be used to support a variety of levels of curriculum and teaching methods. The site offers a wide array of interactive and multimedia content that include videos, animations, and virtual labs, in addition to its general textual content. The content is organized in a nested, bread crumb style that facilitates navigation and orientation within the vast web site. For instance the page “Coral Reef Connections” provides a comprehensive overview of coral relationships and their interactions with other organisms. Then, it narrows down to a single clam that can communicate with its neighbors and react to changes in the water conditions that take place at the level of the reef. This page, as well as the other multidisciplinary, multimedia, and interactive pages on the site, offer an excellent introduction to the broad range of topics in evolutionary biology. The material also provides an explanation of the role of natural selection as well as the concept of phylogenetic analysis which is a key method to understand evolutionary changes. Evolutionary Theory Evolution is a common thread that runs through all branches of biology. A wide selection of resources helps teachers teach evolution across the disciplines of life science. One resource, which is a companion to the PBS television series Understanding Evolution, is an excellent example of an Web site that provides depth and breadth in its educational resources. The site offers a variety of interactive learning modules. It also has a “bread crumb structure” that helps students move away from the cartoon style of Understanding Evolution and onto elements on this site that are more closely linked to the realms of research science. For instance, an animation introducing the notion of genetic inheritance leads to a page that highlights John Endler's experiments with artificial selection with guppies from the native ponds of Trinidad. Another resource that is worth mentioning is the Evolution Library on this web site, which contains an extensive collection of multimedia items related to evolution. The contents are organized into curriculum-based paths that parallel the learning objectives set out in biology standards. It contains seven videos specifically designed for classroom use, which can be streamed for free or purchased on DVD. Evolutionary biology is an area of study that poses many important questions, including what triggers evolution and the speed at which it happens. This is especially applicable to human evolution which has made it difficult to reconcile the idea that the physical traits of humans evolved from apes and religions that believe that humans are unique among living things and has a special place in creation, with a soul. There are a myriad of other ways evolution can occur and natural selection being the most popular theory. Scientists also study different types such as genetic drift and sexual selection. Many fields of inquiry have a conflict with literal interpretations of the Bible Evolutionary biology has been the subject of controversial debate and resistance from religious fundamentalists. Some religions have reconciled their beliefs with evolution, while others haven't.