What Is Evolution Site? To Make Use Of It
Evolution Site – Teaching About Evolution Despite the best efforts of biology educators, misconceptions about evolution remain. Pop science nonsense has led people to believe that biologists don't believe evolution. This rich Web site – companion to the PBS series – provides teachers with materials that support evolution education and avoid the kinds of misconceptions that undermine it. It's organized in a “bread crumb” format to facilitate navigation and orientation. Definitions It's difficult to teach evolution well. It is often misunderstood by non-scientists, and even scientists are guilty of using definitions that confuse the issue. 무료 에볼루션 is particularly relevant when discussing the nature of the words themselves. It is therefore essential 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 manner. The site serves as an accompaniment to the 2001 series, but it is also a resource on its own. The content is presented in a nested manner that assists in navigation and orientation. The site defines terms such as common ancestor, gradual process and adaptation. These terms help define the nature and relationship of evolution with other scientific concepts. The site then offers an overview of how the concept of evolution has been researched and confirmed. This information will help to dispel the myths created by creationists. You can also access a glossary which contains terms used in evolutionary biology. These terms include: Adaptation: The tendency for hereditary traits to become more suited to a particular environment. This is a result of natural selection. Organisms with better-adapted characteristics are more likely than those with less-adapted traits to reproduce and survive. Common ancestor (also known as common ancestor) The most recent ancestor that is shared by two or more species. By studying the DNA of these species, it is possible to determine the common ancestor. Deoxyribonucleic acid: A huge biological molecule that contains the information required for cell replication. The information is contained in sequences of nucleotides that are strung together to form long chains, called 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 affected by changes in evolutionary processes in the other. Coevolution is evident through the interaction between predator and prey, or parasites and hosts. Origins Species (groups of individuals who can interbreed) change through natural changes in the characteristics of their offspring. These changes are caused by a variety such as 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 or increased by environmental conditions such as climate change or competition for food or habitat. The Evolution site tracks the evolution of a number of different species of plants and animals over time with a focus on the key changes that took place in the history of each group. It also explores human evolution and is a subject of particular importance to students. When Darwin wrote the Origin, only a handful of antediluvian human fossils had been discovered. Among them was the famous skullcap and associated bones found in 1856 at the Little Feldhofer Grotto in Germany, which is now known as an early Homo neanderthalensis. It is highly unlikely that Darwin was aware of the skullcap, which was published in 1858, a year after the publication of the first edition of The Origin. Origin. While the site focuses on biology, it contains a wealth of information about geology and paleontology. One of the most appealing features of the Web site are a timeline of events that show the way in which climatic and geological conditions have changed over time as well as a map of the geographical distribution of some fossil groups that are featured on the site. Although the site is a companion to a PBS television show however, it can stand on its own as an excellent resource for teachers and students. The site is well-organized and provides clear links to the introduction information of Understanding Evolution (developed under the National Science Foundation's assistance) as well as the more specialized features on the museum's website. These hyperlinks make it easy to move from the cartoon-style Understanding Evolution pages into the more sophisticated realms of research science. There are links to John Endler’s experiments with guppies that illustrate the importance ecology in evolutionary theory. Diversity The evolution of life has produced a variety of animals, plants and insects. Paleobiology, the study of these creatures in their geological environment, has many advantages over modern observational or experimental methods for studying evolutionary processes. In addition to examining processes and events that take place regularly or over a long period of time, paleobiology allows to analyze the diversity of species of organisms and their distribution across the geological time. The site is divided into various paths to learning evolution which include “Evolution 101,” which takes the viewer on a line through the science of nature and the evidence that supports the theory of evolution. The path also explores common misconceptions about evolution as well as the evolution theory's history. Each of the main sections of the Evolution website is equally well-designed, with materials that can be used to support a variety of educational levels and teaching styles. In addition to the general textual content, the site offers a wide range of multimedia and interactive content including videos, animations and virtual laboratories. The breadcrumb-like organization of the content aids in navigation and orientation on the vast web site. For instance the page “Coral Reef Connections” gives a brief overview of the relationships between corals and their interactions with other organisms. It then concentrates on a specific clam that can communicate with its neighbors and respond to changes in water conditions at the level of the reef. This page, as well as the other multidisciplinary, multimedia and interactive pages on the site, provide an excellent introduction to a broad range of topics in evolutionary biology. The content also includes an overview of the role of natural selectivity and the concept of phylogenetics which is a crucial tool to understand evolutionary changes. Evolutionary Theory Evolution is an underlying thread that is found throughout all branches of biology. A vast collection of books helps in teaching evolution across all disciplines of life science. One resource, which is the companion to PBS's television show Understanding Evolution is an excellent example of an Web site that provides depth as well as broadness in terms of educational resources. The site features a wealth of interactive learning modules. It also has a “bread crumb structure” that allows students to move away from the cartoon-like style used in Understanding Evolution and onto elements on this site that are more closely linked to the worlds of research science. For example, an animation introducing the notion of genetic inheritance leads to a page highlighting John Endler's experiments in artificial selection with guppies in native ponds of Trinidad. Another resource that is worth mentioning is the Evolution Library on this Web site, which has an extensive collection of multimedia assets related to evolution. The content is organized according to curriculum-based paths that parallel the learning objectives outlined in the biology standards. It contains seven videos designed specifically for classroom use, which can be streamed for no cost or purchased on DVD. A number of important questions remain at the heart of evolutionary biology, such as what triggers evolution and how fast it happens. This is especially true in the case of human evolution which was a challenge to reconcile religious beliefs that humanity has a special place in the creation and a soul, with the notion that our physical traits were derived from apes. There are a myriad of other ways in which evolution could occur and natural selection being the most popular theory. However, scientists also study other kinds of evolution like mutation, genetic drift and sexual selection, among other things. Although many scientific fields of study are in conflict with literal interpretations found in religious texts, evolution biology has been a subject of intense controversy and opposition from religious fundamentalists. Some religions have reconciled their beliefs to evolution while others haven't.