Evolution Site - Teaching About Evolution
Despite the best efforts of biology educators, misconceptions about evolution remain. Pop science nonsense has led many people to think that biologists don't believe in evolution.
This rich Web site, which is a companion to the PBS program offers teachers resources that support the evolution of education, while avoiding the kinds of misconceptions which hinder it. It's laid out in the "bread crumb" format to aid in navigation and orientation.
Definitions
Evolution is a complex and challenging subject to teach well. Many non-scientists are unable to grasp the concept, and some scientists even employ a definition that confuses it. This is particularly relevant when discussing the meaning of the words themselves.
Therefore, it is essential to define terms that are used in evolutionary biology. The website for the PBS show, Understanding Evolution, does this in a simple and efficient way. The site is a companion to the show that premiered 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 the gradual process. These terms help to frame the nature of evolution and its relation to other concepts in science. The site then offers an overview of how the concept of evolution has been tested and verified. This information can be used to dispel myths that have been created by the creationists.
You can also consult a glossary that includes terms used in evolutionary biology. These terms include:
Adaptation: The tendency of hereditary traits to become more adaptable to a specific environment. This is a result of natural selection, which happens when organisms that are better-adapted characteristics are more likely to survive and reproduce than those with less adaptable characteristics.
Common ancestor (also called common ancestor): The most recent ancestor that is shared by two or more species. By analyzing DNA from these species it is possible to determine the common ancestor.
Deoxyribonucleic Acid: A massive biological molecular containing the information required for cell replication. The information is contained in nucleotides arranged in sequences that are strung together into long chains, also known as chromosomes. Mutations are the cause of new genetic information in cells.
Coevolution is a relationship between two species, where the evolution of one species influence evolutionary changes of the other. Examples of coevolution are the interactions between predator and prey, or host and parasite.
Origins
Species (groups which can interbreed) change through a series of natural changes in the traits of their offspring. The changes can be triggered by a variety of causes that include natural selection, genetic drift and mixing of genes. The development of a new species can take thousands of years and the process may be slowed down or accelerated by environmental conditions such as climate change or competition for food or habitat.
The Evolution site traces the emergence of a number of different animal and plant groups through time, focusing on the major changes that took place in the evolution of each group's history. It also examines the human evolutionary roots which is particularly important for students to know.
When Darwin wrote the Origin, only a handful of antediluvian human fossils had been found. One of them was the infamous skullcap and bones that were discovered in 1856 at the Little Feldhofer Grotto in Germany that is now thought as an early Homo neanderthalensis. While the skullcap wasn't published until 1858, which was one year before the first edition of the Origin was published, it's extremely unlikely that Darwin had ever heard of it.
The site is primarily an online biology resource however, it also has a lot of information on paleontology and geology. The website has several aspects that are quite impressive, such as an overview of how climate and geological conditions have changed over time. It also features an interactive map that shows the location of fossil groups.
While the site is a companion to the PBS television show, it also stands on its own as a valuable resource for teachers and students. The site is well-organized and provides clear links to the introduction content of Understanding Evolution (developed under the National Science Foundation's assistance) and the more specific features on the museum's website. These hyperlinks help users move from the enthralling cartoon style of the Understanding Evolution pages to the more sophisticated world of research science. Particularly there are hyperlinks 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 animals, plants and insects. Paleobiology is the study of these creatures within their natural environment offers many advantages over modern observational or research methods for exploring evolutionary phenomena. In addition to exploring processes and events that take place frequently or over a long period of time, paleobiology can be used to study the relative abundance of different groups of organisms and their distribution throughout the geological time.
The site is divided into various ways to learn about evolution that include "Evolution 101," which takes the user on a linear path through the nature of science and the evidence to support the theory of evolution. The course also focuses on misconceptions about evolution, and also the history of evolutionary thought.
Each of the main sections of the Evolution website is equally well-developed, and includes materials that support a variety curriculum levels and teaching styles. The site has a range of interactive and multimedia content that include videos, animations, and virtual labs, in addition to its general textual content. The breadcrumb-like organization of the content aids in navigation and orientation on the massive website.
For example the page "Coral Reef Connections" gives a brief overview of coral relationships and their interactions with other organisms. Then, it zooms in on a single clam that can communicate with its neighbors and respond to changes in water conditions that occur at the reef level. This page, along with the other multidisciplinary, multimedia, and interactive pages on the site, offer an excellent introduction to the broad spectrum of topics in evolutionary biology. The information also includes an overview of the importance of natural selection and the concept of phylogenetic analysis which is an important tool for understanding the evolution of changes.
Evolution ary Theory
Evolution is a common thread that is found throughout all branches of biology. A rich collection of resources supports teaching about evolution across the life sciences.
One resource, which is a companion to the PBS television series Understanding Evolution, is an outstanding example of a Web site that offers both depth and a variety of educational resources. The site features a wide range of interactive learning modules. It also has a nested "bread crumb" structure that helps students transition from the cartoon style of Understanding Evolution to elements on this huge site that are closer to the field of research science. For example, an animation introducing the idea of genetic inheritance connects to a page that focuses on John Endler's experiments in artificial selection with guppies from the native ponds of Trinidad.
Another helpful resource is the Evolution Library on this website, which includes an extensive collection of multimedia items that are related to evolution. The content is organized in the form of curriculum-based pathways that are in line with the learning objectives set out in the biology standards. It includes seven short videos designed specifically for use in classrooms, and can be streamed for free or purchased on DVD.
A variety of crucial questions remain in the midst of evolutionary biology, including what causes evolution to occur and how fast it happens. This is particularly relevant for the evolution of humans which was a challenge to reconcile religious beliefs that held that humanity has a special place in creation and a soul with the notion that our physical traits were derived from apes.
There are a variety of other ways evolution can take place and natural selection being the most widely accepted theory. However scientists also study other kinds of evolution, such as mutation, genetic drift and sexual selection, among other things.
While many fields of scientific inquiry are in conflict with literal interpretations of the Bible evolutionary biology has been the subject of intense controversy and resistance from religious fundamentalists. Some religions have reconciled their beliefs to evolution while others haven't.