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???? ??? ?? - Teaching About Evolution Despite the best efforts of biology educators, misconceptions about evolution remain. People who have been exposed to pop science nonsense often assume that biologists do not believe in evolution. This site, which is a companion to the PBS series offers teachers with resources that promote evolution education and avoids the kinds of myths that undermine it. It's arranged in a nested "bread crumb" format for ease of navigation and orientation. Definitions It's not easy to properly teach evolution. ???? ??? ?? is often misunderstood by non-scientists, and even scientists use definitions that confuse the issue. This is particularly relevant when discussing the nature of the words themselves. As such, it is crucial to define the terms that are used in evolutionary biology. Understanding Evolution's website does this in a simple and efficient manner. The site is a companion site to the series that first aired in 2001, but is also an independent resource. The information is presented in an organized way that makes it easy to navigate and understand. The site defines terms like common ancestor, the gradual process, and adaptation. These terms help frame the nature of evolution and its relationship to evolution to other concepts in science. The site provides an overview of the manner in which evolution has been examined. This information can be used to dispel the myths that have been engendered by creationists. It is also possible to find a glossary of terms that are used in evolutionary biology. These terms include: Adaptation is the tendency of hereditary traits to become more suited to the environment. This is due to natural selection, which occurs when organisms that have more adaptable traits are more likely survive and reproduce than those with less adaptable characteristics. Common ancestor: The most recent common ancestor of two or more species. By analyzing DNA from these species, it is possible to determine the common ancestor. Deoxyribonucleic acid: A massive biological molecule that contains the information necessary for cell replication. The information is contained in a sequence of nucleotides that are strung together into long chains, referred to as chromosomes. Mutations are the reason behind the creation of new genetic information inside cells. Coevolution: A relationship between two species in which evolutionary changes in one species are affected by changes in evolutionary processes in the other. Examples of coevolution include the interactions between predator and prey or the parasite and the host. Origins Species (groups of individuals that are able to interbreed) change through natural changes in the characteristics of their offspring. The changes can be caused by a variety such as natural selection, genetic drift and mixing of gene pools. The evolution of new species can take thousands of years. Environmental conditions, such as climate changes or competition for food and habitat can slow or speed up the process. The Evolution site tracks the development of a number of different groups of animals and plants over time and focuses on the most significant transitions that occurred in each group's history. It also focuses on the human evolutionary roots and humans, a subject that is particularly important for students to know. When Darwin wrote the Origin in 1859, only a handful of antediluvian human fossils had been discovered. Among them was the famous skullcap and the associated bones discovered in 1856 in the Little Feldhofer Grotto in Germany which is now believed as an early Homo neanderthalensis. It is highly unlikely that Darwin was aware of the skullcap when it was published in 1858, a year after the first edition of The Origin. The site is mostly an online biology resource, but it also contains many details on paleontology and geology. Among the best features of the Web site are a set of timelines that illustrate how climatic and geological conditions have changed over time and an interactive map of the distribution of a few of the fossil groups featured on the site. While the site is a companion to a PBS television series however, it can stand on its own as a valuable source for teachers and students. The site is very well organized and provides clear links between the introductory material in Understanding Evolution (developed with support from the National Science Foundation) and the more specialized components of the museum's Web site. ???? ??? make it easy to move from the cartoon style of Understanding Evolution pages into the more sophisticated worlds 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 resulted in a variety of plants, animals and insects. Paleobiology, the study of these creatures in their geological environment offers many advantages over the current observational or experimental methods for studying evolutionary processes. Paleobiology focuses on not only processes and events that occur regularly or over time, but also the relative abundance and distribution of various animal groups in space over the course of geological time. The website is divided into various options to study the subject of evolution. One of these paths, "Evolution 101," guides the user through the evolution of nature and the evidence of evolution. The path also explores the most common misconceptions about evolution, as well as the history of evolutionary thought. Each of the main sections of the Evolution website is equally well-designed, with materials that are suited to a variety of levels of curriculum and teaching methods. The site includes a variety of interactive and multimedia content which include animations, video clips and virtual labs, in addition to its general textual content. The content is laid out in a nested bread crumb style that facilitates navigation and orientation within the large web site. 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 is able to communicate with its neighbors and respond to changes in the water conditions that take place at the reef level. This page, as well as the other multidisciplinary interactive and multimedia pages, gives a good introduction to a variety of topics in evolutionary biology. The material includes a discussion on the role of natural selectivity and the concept of phylogenetics which is a crucial method for understanding the evolution of change. Evolutionary Theory Evolution is a common thread that connects all branches of biology. A wide range of resources can help teachers teach about evolution across all life sciences. One resource, the companion to PBS's TV series Understanding Evolution is an excellent example of a Web page that offers both depth and breadth in terms of its educational resources. The site has a variety of interactive learning modules. It also features a nested "bread crumb" structure that allows students to transition from the cartoon style of Understanding Evolution to elements on this large Web site more closely tied to the world of research science. For instance an animation that introduces the concept of genetic inheritance links to a page that focuses on John Endler's artificial selection experiments with guppies from the native ponds of Trinidad. Another resource that is worth mentioning is the Evolution Library on this Web website, which includes an extensive collection of multimedia assets connected to evolution. The content is organized into curriculum-based paths that parallel the learning objectives set out in the standards for biology. It includes seven short videos designed specifically for classroom use, which can be streamed at no cost or purchased on DVD. A variety of crucial questions remain at the heart of evolutionary biology, such as what triggers evolution and how fast it happens. This is particularly relevant to human evolution, which has made it difficult to reconcile the notion that the innate physical characteristics of humans were derived from apes and religious beliefs that claim that humans are unique among living things and holds a an enviable place in creation, with a soul. Additionally, there are a number of ways in which evolution could occur, with natural selection being the most popular theory. Scientists also study other kinds such as mutation, genetic drift, and sexual selection. While many scientific fields of study conflict with literal interpretations found in religious texts, the concept of evolution biology has been a source of intense debate and opposition from religious fundamentalists. Certain religions have embraced their beliefs to evolution but others haven't.
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