5. Evolution Site Projects For Any Budget

Evolution Site - Teaching About Evolution

Despite the best efforts of biology educators, misinformation about evolution remain. People who have been exposed to the nonsense of pop science often believe that biologists do not believe in evolution.

This rich Web site, which is a complement to the PBS program that provides teachers with resources which support evolution education, while avoiding the kinds of misconceptions that can make it difficult to understand. It's organized in a nested "bread crumb" format for ease of navigation and orientation.

Definitions

It's not easy to effectively teach evolution. It is often misunderstood by non-scientists, and even scientists have been guilty of using an interpretation that is confusing the issue. This is especially true when it comes to discussions about the nature of the word.

It is important to define terms that are used in evolutionary biology. The website for the PBS show, Understanding Evolution, does this in a simple and efficient manner. The site is a companion site to the show which first aired in 2001, but it is also an independent resource. The content is presented in a nested manner that aids navigation and orientation.

The site defines terms such as common ancestor and the gradual process. These terms help frame the nature and significance of evolution with other scientific concepts. The site gives a comprehensive overview of the way that evolution has been tested. This information can be used to dispel the myths that have been created by the creationists.

You can also access a glossary which includes 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. It occurs when organisms with better adapted traits are more likely survive and reproduce than those with less adaptable traits.

Common ancestor: The latest common ancestor of two or more species. By analyzing the DNA from these species it is possible to identify the common ancestor.

에볼루션 코리아 : A massive biological molecule that contains information necessary for cell replication. The information is contained in sequences of nucleotides that are strung together to form long chains, also known as chromosomes. Mutations are the reason behind the creation of new genetic information inside cells.

Coevolution is a relation between two species where evolution of one species are influenced evolutionary changes in the other. Coevolution is evident through the interaction between predator and prey, or parasites and hosts.

Origins

Species (groups of individuals that are able to interbreed) develop through a series of natural changes in the characteristics of their offspring. These changes are caused by a variety of factors that include natural selection, genetic drift and mixing of genes. The development of a new species can take thousands of years and the process could be slowed or increased by environmental factors like climate change or competition for food or habitat.

The Evolution site traces the emergence of a number of different groups of animals and plants over time with a focus on the key shifts that occurred throughout the history of each group. It also focuses on human evolution as a subject that is of particular interest for students.

When Darwin wrote the Origin of Species, only a handful of antediluvian human fossils had been found. The famous skullcap, with the bones associated with it were discovered in 1856 in the Little Feldhofer Grotto of Germany. It is now regarded as an early Homo neanderthalensis. It is highly unlikely that Darwin was aware of the skullcap when it was published in 1858, one year following the initial edition of The Origin.

The site is mostly a biology site however, it also has lots of information about paleontology and geology. Among the best features of the website are a set of timelines that show how climatic and geological conditions changed over time, as well as an interactive map of the geographical distribution of some fossil groups that are featured on the site.


Although the site is a companion to the PBS television series but it also stands on its own as an excellent resource for teachers and students. The site is well-organized and provides easy links to the introductory information of Understanding Evolution (developed under the National Science Foundation's assistance) and the more specialized features of the museum website. These links make it easier 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, which demonstrate the importance of ecology in evolutionary theory.

Diversity

The evolution of life has led to a variety of plants, animals and insects. Paleobiology is the study of these creatures within their geographical context and offers many advantages over modern observational and experimental methods for analyzing evolutionary processes. Paleobiology can examine not only processes and events that take place frequently or over time, but also the relative abundance and distribution of various animal groups in space over the course of geological time.

The Web site is divided into a variety of pathways to understanding evolution that include "Evolution 101," which takes the viewer on a liner path through the science of nature and the evidence supporting the theory of evolution. The course also focuses on misconceptions about evolution and the background of evolutionary thought.

Each of the other major sections of the Evolution site is equally well constructed, with materials that support a variety of different pedagogical levels and curriculum levels. In addition to general textual content, the site offers an array of multimedia and interactive resources including videos, animations and virtual laboratories. The content is laid out in a nested bread crumb fashion that aids navigation and orientation within the vast Web site.

The page "Coral Reef Connections" For instance, the page "Coral Reef Connections" gives a brief overview of the coral's relationships and interactions with other organisms and zooms in to one clam, which is able to communicate with its neighbors and respond to changes in conditions of the water that occur 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 broad range of topics in evolutionary biology. The material includes an overview of the significance of natural selectivity and the concept of phylogenetics, an important tool to understand evolutionary change.

Evolutionary Theory

Evolution is a common thread that is found throughout all branches of biology. A rich collection supports teaching evolution across all life science disciplines.

One resource, which is the companion to PBS's TV series Understanding Evolution is an excellent example of a Web site that provides the depth and the wide range of educational resources. The site features a wide range of interactive learning modules. It also has an "bread crumb structure" that helps students move away from the cartoon-like style of Understanding Evolution and onto elements on this site that are more closely related to the worlds of research science. An animation that introduces the concept of genetics, which links to a page highlighting John Endler's experiments with artificial selection using guppies on native ponds in Trinidad.

Another useful resource is the Evolution Library on this web site, which has an extensive collection of multimedia items related to evolution. The content is organized according to courses that are based on curriculum and follow the learning goals established in the biology standards. It includes seven short videos designed specifically for classroom use, which can be streamed for free or purchased on DVD.

Evolutionary biology is a field of study that poses many important questions, such as the causes of evolution and the speed at which it takes place. This is particularly relevant to human evolution, where it's been difficult to reconcile the idea that the physical traits of humans evolved from apes, and the religious beliefs that claim that humans are unique among living things and has an exclusive place in the creation. It is soul.

There are a variety of other ways in which evolution could occur including natural selection, which is the most widely accepted theory. However, scientists also study other kinds of evolution, such as mutation, genetic drift and sexual selection, among others.

While many fields of scientific inquiry conflict with the literal interpretations of religious texts, 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 ideas of evolution, other religions aren't.

Edit Report
Pub: 23 Dec 2024 10:13 UTC
Views: 32