menu

Carter User

Carter User

Evolution Site - Teaching About Evolution

Despite the best efforts of biology educators, there are still a lot of misconceptions about the evolution. Pop science nonsense has led people to think that biologists don't believe in evolution.

This site, which is a complement to the PBS program offers teachers resources that support the evolution of education while avoiding the types of misconceptions that can undermine it. It's organized in a "bread crumb" format to aid in navigation and orientation.

Definitions

Evolution is a complicated and difficult subject matter to teach effectively. It is often misunderstood by non-scientists and even scientists have been guilty of using definitions that confuse the issue. This is especially relevant when discussing the definition of the words.

As such, it is essential to define terms used in evolutionary biology. Understanding Evolution's website provides this in a simple and efficient way. The site is a companion to the series that first aired in 2001, but can also function as an independent resource. The material is presented in a nested fashion which aids navigation and orientation.

The site defines terms such as common ancestor (or common ancestor), gradual process and adaptation. These terms help to define the nature and relationship of evolution to other scientific concepts. The website provides a summary of the way in which evolution has been tested. This information can be used to dispel misconceptions that have been engendered by creationists.

You can also access a glossary that includes terms used in evolutionary biology. These terms include:

Adaptation: The tendency for hereditary traits to become more suitable to a particular setting. This is a result of natural selection, which happens when organisms that are better adapted traits are more likely survive and reproduce than those with less adaptable characteristics.

Common ancestor (also called common ancestor): The most recent ancestral 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 molecular that contains the necessary information for cell replication. The information is contained in sequences of nucleotides that are strung together into long chains, also known as chromosomes. Mutations are responsible for the creation of new genetic information inside cells.

Coevolution: A relationship between two species in which evolutionary changes in one species are influenced by evolutionary changes in the other. Examples of coevolution include the interactions between predator and prey or the parasite and the host.

Origins

Species (groups of individuals who can interbreed) change through natural changes in the traits of their offspring. Changes can be caused by numerous factors, like natural selection, gene drift, and mixing of the gene pool. The development of a new species could take thousands of years, and the process may be slowed down or accelerated by environmental factors like climate change or the competition for food or habitat.

The Evolution site traces through time the evolution of various species of plants and animals with a focus on major changes within each group's past. It also examines the human evolutionary roots and humans, a subject that is crucial for students to understand.

Darwin's Origin was written in 1859, when only a few antediluvian fossils of humans were 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. While the skullcap wasn't published until 1858, just one year before the first edition of the Origin was published, it's extremely unlikely that Darwin had heard or seen of it.

While the site focuses on biology, it also contains a wealth of information about geology as well as paleontology. One of the most appealing features of the Web site are a set of timelines that illustrate how geological and climatic conditions have changed over time and an outline of the distribution of some fossil groups listed on the site.

The site is a companion for a PBS TV series but it can be used as a resource for teachers and students. The site is very well-organized and offers clear links between the introduction information in Understanding Evolution (developed with support from the National Science Foundation) and the more sophisticated components of the museum's Web site. These hyperlinks make it easier to transition from the cartoon-style Understanding Evolution pages into the more sophisticated worlds of research science. There are also links to John Endler's experiments with guppies that illustrate 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 within their geological context offers many advantages over modern observational or experimental methods of studying evolutionary phenomena. Paleobiology is able to study not just the processes and events that occur regularly or over time, but also the relative abundance and distribution of different groups of animals across geological time.

The site is divided into several options to gain knowledge about evolution. One of these paths, "Evolution 101," walks the reader through the nature and evidence of evolution. The path also examines myths regarding evolution, as well as the history of evolutionary thought.

Each of the other sections of the Evolution site is equally created, with resources that can be used to support a range of curriculum levels and pedagogical styles. The site has a range of interactive and multimedia resources which include video clips, animations and virtual laboratories, in addition to its general textual content. The content is laid out in a nested bread crumb-like fashion that helps with navigation and orientation within the large web site.

For instance, the page "Coral Reef Connections" provides an overview of the relationships between corals and their interaction with other organisms. ???? ???? concentrates on a specific clam that is able to communicate with its neighbors and respond to changes in water conditions that occur at the reef level. This page, as well as the other multidisciplinary interactive and multimedia pages offers a great introduction to a variety of topics in evolutionary biology. The content includes an overview of the role of natural selectivity and the concept of phylogenetics as a key tool to understand evolutionary change.

Evolutionary Theory

For biology students, evolution is a key thread that binds all branches of the field. A wide range of resources helps teachers teach about evolution across the life sciences.

One resource, which is a companion to the PBS television series Understanding Evolution, is an outstanding example of an Web site that provides depth and a variety of educational resources. The site has a variety of interactive learning modules. It also features an embedded "bread crumb" structure that allows students to move from the cartoon-like style of Understanding Evolution to elements on this huge site that are closer to the world of research science. An animation that introduces students to the concept of genetics links to a page that highlights John Endler's experiments with artificial selection using guppies on native ponds in Trinidad.

The Evolution Library on this website has a huge multimedia library of resources that are associated to evolution. The content is organized according to curriculum-based pathways that correspond to the learning objectives outlined 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 number of important questions remain at the core of evolutionary biology, including what triggers evolution and how fast it occurs. This is particularly applicable to human evolution where it's been difficult to reconcile the idea that the innate physical characteristics of humans derived from apes and religious beliefs that hold that humans are unique among living things and has a special place in creation with a soul.

Additionally there are a myriad 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.

Many fields of inquiry are in conflict with literal interpretations of the Bible evolutionary biology has been the subject of controversial debate and resistance from religious fundamentalists. While some religions have been able to reconcile their beliefs with the theories of evolution, others haven't.

Member since: Tuesday, December 24, 2024

Website: https://kline-mohamed-3.thoughtlanes.net/10-evolution-baccarat-site-strategies-all-the-experts-recommend-1735060364

BitsDuJour is for People who Love Software
Every day we review great Mac & PC apps, and get you discounts up to 100%
Follow Us
© Copyright 2025 BitsDuJour LLC. Code & Design. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy