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Evolution Site – Teaching About Evolution Despite the best efforts of biology educators, there are still a lot of misconceptions about the evolution. Pop science fiction has led a lot of people to believe that biologists don't believe evolution. This rich Web site, a companion to the PBS program offers teachers resources that support the evolution of education, while avoiding the kinds of misconceptions that make it difficult to understand. It's laid out in a nested “bread crumb” format to make it easy for navigation and orientation. Definitions Evolution is a complex and difficult subject to teach well. It is often misunderstood by non-scientists, and even scientists use a definition that confuses the issue. This is particularly true when discussing the nature of the words themselves. Therefore, it is crucial to define the terms that are used in evolutionary biology. The website for the PBS show, Understanding Evolution, does this in a clear and helpful way. The site is both a companion for the 2001 series, but also a resource of its own. The content is presented in a nested manner that aids navigation and orientation. The site defines terms such as common ancestor (or common ancestor), gradual process, and adaptation. These terms help frame the nature and significance of evolution to other scientific concepts. The website then provides an overview of how the concept of evolution has been tested and confirmed. This information can be used to dispel myths that have been created by creationists. It is also possible to find a glossary of terms that are used in evolutionary biology. These terms include: Adaptation is the process of changing hereditary traits to become more suitable to their environment. This is the result of natural selection, which occurs when organisms that have more adaptable characteristics are more likely to survive and reproduce than those with less adaptable characteristics. Common ancestor: The most recent common ancestor of two or more different species. By analyzing DNA from these species, it is possible to determine the common ancestor. Deoxyribonucleic acid: A huge biological molecule that contains the information necessary for cell replication. The information is stored in nucleotide sequences that are strung into long chains known as chromosomes. Mutations are the basis for new genetic information in cells. Coevolution is a relationship between two species in which evolutionary changes in one species are influenced by evolutionary changes in the other. Coevolution can be seen in the interaction of predator and prey, or parasite and hosts. Origins Species (groups that can interbreed) change through a series of natural changes in their offspring's traits. Changes can be caused by 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 conditions, like climate changes or competition for food or habitat can slow or speed up the process. The Evolution site traces the emergence of a number of different species of plants and animals over time, focusing on the major changes that took place in each group's history. It also focuses on the evolutionary history of humans, a topic that is particularly important for students to comprehend. Darwin's Origin was published in 1859, at a time when only a handful of antediluvian fossils of humans had been found. The famous skullcap, along with the bones that accompanied it were discovered in 1856 in the Little Feldhofer Grotto of Germany. It is now recognized as an early Homo neanderthalensis. It is unlikely that Darwin knew about the skullcap, which was first published in 1858, a year after the first edition of The Origin. Origin. While the site focuses on biology, it also contains a wealth of information on geology and paleontology. Among the best features on the site are a set of timelines that illustrate the way in which climatic and geological conditions changed over time, and an outline of the distribution of a few of the fossil groups featured on the site. The site is a companion for the PBS television series, but it could also be used as an educational resource for teachers and students. The site is well-organized and offers clear links to the introductory information of Understanding Evolution (developed under the National Science Foundation's funding) and the more specialized features on the museum's website. These hyperlinks help users 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 of ecology in evolutionary theory. Diversity The evolution of life on Earth has resulted in a variety of plants, animals, and insects. Paleobiology is the study of these creatures within their geological context and has many advantages over the modern observational and research methods in its exploration of evolutionary phenomena. Paleobiology is able to study not only processes and events that happen regularly or over time, but also the relative abundance and distribution of various animal groups in space throughout geological time. The website is divided into several optional ways to learn about evolution which include “Evolution 101,” which takes the user on a linear path through the science of nature and the evidence supporting the theory of evolution. The path also explores common misconceptions about evolution and the evolution of thought. Each of the main sections on the Evolution website is equally well-designed, with materials that support a variety levels of curriculum and teaching methods. The site offers a wide array of interactive and multimedia content which include videos, animations, and virtual labs in addition to general textual content. The breadcrumb-like structure of the content aids in navigation and orientation on the massive website. For instance, the page “Coral Reef Connections” gives a brief overview of the relationships between corals and their interaction with other organisms. Then, it zooms in on a single clam that can communicate with its neighbors and respond to changes in water conditions at the reef level. This page, as well as the other multidisciplinary, multimedia, and interactive pages on the website, provide an excellent introduction to a wide spectrum of topics in evolutionary biology. The material includes a discussion on the importance of natural selection and the concept of phylogenetics analysis as a key tool for understanding evolutionary change. Evolutionary Theory Evolution is a common thread that runs through all branches of biology. A vast collection of resources can help teachers teach about evolution across the life sciences. One resource, the companion to PBS's TV series Understanding Evolution is an excellent example of an Web page that offers both depth and wide range of educational resources. The site features a wealth of interactive learning modules. It also features an embedded “bread crumb” structure that allows students to move from the cartoon style of Understanding Evolution to elements on this huge site that are more closely tied to the world of research science. An animation that introduces students to the concept of genetics is linked to a page that highlights John Endler's experiments in artificial selection using Guppies living in ponds native to Trinidad. Recommended Looking at on this website contains a large multimedia library of resources that are associated with evolution. The content is organized into curricula-based paths that correspond to the learning objectives outlined in the biology standards. It contains seven short videos designed for classroom use. They are available to stream or purchase as DVDs. Evolutionary biology is still a field of study that poses many important questions, including what triggers evolution and the speed at which it occurs. This is especially relevant to human evolution, which has made it difficult to reconcile the idea that the innate physical characteristics of humans were derived from apes with religious beliefs that hold that humans are unique in the universe and has an exclusive place in the creation with soul. There are also a number of other ways in which 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 others. Many fields of inquiry conflict with the literal interpretations of religious texts, evolutionary biology has been the subject of controversial debate and resistance from religious fundamentalists. Certain religions have embraced their beliefs with evolutionary biology, while others haven't.