Is Evolution Site Really As Vital As Everyone Says?
Evolution Site – Teaching About Evolution Despite the best efforts by biology educators, there are still a lot of misconceptions about the evolution. People who have taken in pop science nonsense often assume that biologists do not believe in evolution. This site, which is a companion to the PBS series – provides teachers with materials that support evolution education and avoids the kinds of misinformation that can hinder it. It's arranged in a nested “bread crumb” format to facilitate navigation and orientation. Definitions It's difficult to properly teach evolution. It is often misunderstood even by non-scientists, and even scientists have been guilty of using an interpretation that is confusing the issue. This is especially relevant when it comes to the nature of the words themselves. It is therefore crucial to define the terms that are used in evolutionary biology. Understanding Evolution's website does this in a straightforward and useful manner. The site 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 that aids navigation and orientation. The site defines terms such as common ancestor, gradual process, and adaptation. These terms help to define the nature of evolution and its relation to other scientific concepts. The website then provides an overview of how the concept of evolution has been tested and verified. sell can help dispel myths that are created by the creationists. You can also consult a glossary that includes terms used in evolutionary biology. These terms include: Adaptation is the tendency of heritable traits to become more suited to the environment. This is due to natural selection. It occurs when organisms that are more adaptable traits are more likely survive and reproduce than those with less adaptable characteristics. Common ancestor (also known as common ancestor): The most recent ancestor shared by two or more species. The common ancestor can be identified by analyzing the DNA of the species. Deoxyribonucleic acid: A massive biological molecule that contains 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 basis for new genetic information within cells. Coevolution is the relationship between two species, where the evolution of one species are influenced by evolutionary changes in the other. Coevolution can be observed in the interaction of predator and prey, or parasites and hosts. Origins Species (groups of individuals that can interbreed) evolve through natural changes in the characteristics of their offspring. These changes are caused by a variety such as natural selection, genetic drift and gene pool mixing. The evolution of new species could take thousands of years. Environmental conditions, like changes in the climate or competition for food and habitat, can slow or accelerate the process. The Evolution site traces through time the evolution of different species of plants and animals and focuses on major changes in each group's past. It also focuses on human evolution and is a subject that is particularly important to students. When Darwin wrote the Origin of Species, only a handful of antediluvian human fossils had been discovered. The most famous among them was the skullcap and associated bones found in 1856 in the Little Feldhofer Grotto in Germany, which is now known as an early Homo neanderthalensis. Although the skullcap was not published until 1858, which was one year after the first edition of the Origin appeared, it is very unlikely that Darwin had seen or heard of it. The site is mostly a biology site however, it also has lots of information about paleontology and geology. The most impressive features on the site are a set of timelines that illustrate how climatic and geological conditions have changed over time, and an outline of the geographical distribution of some fossil groups listed on the site. The site is a companion to a PBS TV series but it can be used as a resource for teachers and students. The site is very well-organized and has clear links between the introductory material in Understanding Evolution (developed with support from the National Science Foundation) and the more specialized elements of the museum 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. Particularly there are links to John Endler's research with Guppies, which demonstrate the importance of ecology in evolutionary theory. Diversity The evolution of life has led to many species of animals, plants and insects. Paleobiology, the study of these creatures in their geological context is a superior method of study over modern observational or experimental methods for studying evolutionary processes. In addition to examining processes and events that occur frequently or over a long period of time, paleobiology is able to study the relative abundance of different species of organisms and their distribution across geological time. The site is divided into several routes that can be taken to gain knowledge about evolution. One of the paths, “Evolution 101,” takes the viewer through the complexities and evidence of evolution. The path also reveals the most common misconceptions about evolution, as well as the history of evolutionary thought. Each of the other sections of the Evolution site is equally developed, with materials that can support a variety of different pedagogical levels and curriculum levels. The site includes a variety of interactive and multimedia resources, including animations, video clips and virtual labs in addition to general textual content. The breadcrumb-like structure of the content helps with navigation and orientation on the vast Web site. The page “Coral Reef Connections”, for example, provides a comprehensive overview of the coral's relationships and interactions with other organisms, and then zooms in on a single clam, which can communicate with its neighbours and respond to changes in the conditions of the water that occur at the reef level. This page, as well as the other multidisciplinary, multimedia, and interactive pages on the site, offer an excellent introduction to a wide variety of topics in evolutionary biology. The material includes a discussion on the significance of natural selectivity and the concept of phylogenetics analysis which is a crucial tool for understanding evolutionary changes. Evolutionary Theory For biology students evolution is a crucial thread that weaves together all the branches of the field. A vast collection of books helps in teaching evolution across all disciplines of life science. One resource, which is a companion to the PBS television series Understanding Evolution, is an exceptional example of an Web site that provides the depth and breadth of its educational resources. The site offers a variety of interactive learning modules. It also has an “bread crumb structure” that allows students to move away from the cartoon style of Understanding Evolution and onto elements of this vast website that are closely linked to the worlds of research science. An animation that introduces students to the concept of genetics is linked to a page about John Endler's experiments in artificial selection using Guppies living in ponds native to Trinidad. The Evolution Library on this website has a huge multimedia library of materials that deal to evolution. The content is organized into curricula-based paths that correspond to the learning objectives outlined in biology standards. It contains seven videos that are intended for use in the classroom. 에볼루션 사이트 can be viewed online or purchased as DVDs. Many important questions remain at the heart of evolutionary biology, such as what triggers evolution and how fast it happens. This is particularly true for the evolution of humans which was a challenge to reconcile religious beliefs that held that humanity has a special position in the universe and a soul with the notion that human beings have innate physical traits were derived from the apes. There are a myriad of other ways in which evolution can occur including natural selection, which is the most well-known theory. Scientists also study other kinds such as genetic drift and sexual selection. Although many scientific fields of study are in conflict with literal interpretations in religious texts, the concept of evolution biology has been a subject of intense controversy and opposition from religious fundamentalists. While certain religions have been able to reconcile their beliefs with the ideas of evolution, others have not.