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Evolution Site – Teaching About Evolution Despite the best efforts by biology educators, misconceptions persist regarding evolution. Pop science nonsense has led people to believe that biologists don't believe evolution. our homepage , which is a companion to the PBS series offers teachers with resources which support evolution education and avoids the kinds of misconceptions that undermine it. It's arranged in a nested “bread crumb” format to make it easy for navigation and orientation. Definitions Evolution is a complex and challenging subject to teach effectively. It is often misunderstood even by non-scientists, and even some scientists use definitions that confuse the issue. This is particularly relevant when discussing the meaning of the words themselves. As such, it is important to define terms used in evolutionary biology. Understanding Evolution's website does this in a simple and efficient way. The site is a companion site to the series that first aired in 2001, but it is also 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 frame the nature of evolution as well as its relationship to other concepts in science. The website provides a summary of the way in which evolution has been tested. This information can help dispel myths that are created by the creationists. It is also possible to access a glossary of terms used in evolutionary biology. These terms include: The process of adaptation is the tendency of heritable traits to become more suited to the environment. This is the result of natural selection. It occurs when organisms that have better adapted traits are more likely to survive and reproduce than those with less adapted traits. Common ancestor (also called 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 identify the common ancestor. Deoxyribonucleic Acid: A huge biological molecular containing the information required for cell replication. The information is stored in nucleotide sequences that are strung into long chains, referred to as chromosomes. Mutations are the basis for new genetic information in cells. Coevolution is a relation between two species where evolution of one species are influenced evolutionary changes of the other. Examples of coevolution are the interactions between predator and prey or parasite and host. Origins Species (groups of individuals who can interbreed) evolve through natural changes in the characteristics of their offspring. Changes can be caused by numerous factors, like natural selection, gene drift and mixing of the gene pool. The evolution of a new species could take thousands of years and the process can be slowed down or accelerated by environmental conditions such as climate change or the competition for food or habitat. The Evolution site follows the evolution of various species of plants and animals, focusing on major transitions in each group's history. It also examines the evolution of humans and is a subject that is of particular interest for students. When Darwin wrote the Origin in 1859, only a handful of antediluvian human fossils had been discovered. The skullcap that is famous, along with the bones that accompanied it were discovered in 1856 in the Little Feldhofer Grotto of Germany. It is now known as an early Homo neanderthalensis. It is unlikely that Darwin was aware of the skullcap, which was first published in 1858, a year after the publication of the first edition of The Origin. Origin. While the site focuses on biology, it also includes a good deal of information about geology and paleontology. One of the most appealing features on the site are a timeline of events that illustrate how geological and climatic conditions have changed over time and an interactive map of the distribution of some fossil groups that are featured on the site. The site is a companion for a PBS TV series but it could be used as a resource for teachers and students. The site is well-organized and offers easy links to the introductory material of Understanding Evolution (developed under the National Science Foundation's support) and the more specialized features on the museum's website. These hyperlinks make it easier to transition 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 that demonstrate 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 geographical context and offers a number of advantages over the modern observational and research methods for analyzing evolutionary processes. Paleobiology can examine not just the processes and events that happen regularly or over time but also the relative abundance and distribution of different groups of animals across geological time. The Web site is divided into several optional ways to learn about evolution, including “Evolution 101,” which takes the viewer on a liner path through the scientific process and the evidence that supports the theory of evolution. The path also examines myths about evolution as well as the history of evolutionary thinking. Each of the main sections on the Evolution website is equally well-developed, with materials that can be used to support a variety of educational levels and teaching styles. 에볼루션사이트 includes a variety of interactive and multimedia resources that include animations, video clips and virtual laboratories as well as general textual content. The breadcrumb-like arrangement of the content aids in navigation and orientation on the vast Web site. The page “Coral Reef Connections” For instance, it provides a comprehensive overview of coral relationships, their interaction with other organisms and is enlarged to show one clam, which can communicate with its neighbors and respond to changes in the conditions of the water 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 variety of topics in evolutionary biology. The content includes an overview of the role of natural selectivity and the concept phylogenetics analysis, an important tool to understand evolutionary change. Evolutionary Theory Evolution is an underlying thread that runs through all branches of biology. A rich collection supports teaching evolution across all life science disciplines. 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 has a variety of interactive learning modules. It also features an embedded “bread crumb” structure that helps students move from the cartoon-like style of Understanding Evolution to elements on this large Web site closer to the field of research science. An animation that introduces the concept of genetics, which links to a page that highlights John Endler's experiments in artificial selection using guppies on native ponds in Trinidad. Another resource that is worth mentioning is the Evolution Library on this site, which contains an extensive collection of multimedia resources that are related to evolution. The content is organized into curricula-based pathways that correspond to the learning objectives outlined in the biology standards. It contains seven videos specifically intended for use in the classroom. They are available to stream or purchase as DVDs. Evolutionary biology is a field of study that poses many important questions, such as what causes evolution and how quickly it occurs. This is particularly applicable to human evolution where it has been difficult to reconcile the idea that the physical traits of humans evolved from apes with religions that believe that humanity is unique in the universe and has an exclusive place in the creation with a soul. There are a myriad of other ways evolution can take place including natural selection, which is the most popular theory. Scientists also study other kinds such as mutation, genetic drift and sexual selection. While many fields of scientific study have a conflict with literal interpretations in religious texts, evolution biology has been a source of intense controversy and opposition from religious fundamentalists. While certain religions have managed to reconcile their beliefs with the ideas of evolution, others haven't.