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The Academy's Evolution Site<br><br>Biological evolution is one of the most central concepts in biology. The Academies are involved in helping those interested in the sciences learn about the theory of evolution and how it is permeated throughout all fields of scientific research.<br><br>This site provides a range of sources for students, teachers and general readers of evolution. It includes key video clip from NOVA and WGBH produced science programs on DVD.<br><br>Tree of Life<br><br>The Tree of Life is an ancient symbol that represents the interconnectedness of all life. It is an emblem of love and unity in many cultures. It has numerous practical applications as well, including providing a framework to understand the evolution of species and how they respond to changing environmental conditions.<br><br>The earliest attempts to depict the world of biology focused on the classification of organisms into distinct categories that had been distinguished by their physical and metabolic characteristics1. These methods, which are based on the sampling of different parts of organisms, or fragments of DNA, have significantly increased the diversity of a Tree of Life2. However these trees are mainly comprised of eukaryotes, and bacterial diversity is still largely unrepresented3,4.<br><br>By avoiding the need for direct experimentation and observation genetic techniques have made it possible to represent the Tree of Life in a much more accurate way. We can create trees using molecular techniques, such as the small-subunit ribosomal gene.<br><br>Despite the dramatic growth of the Tree of Life through genome sequencing, much biodiversity still remains to be discovered. This is especially relevant to microorganisms that are difficult to cultivate, and are usually found in a single specimen5. Recent analysis of all genomes produced an initial draft of the Tree of Life. This includes a large number of bacteria, archaea and other organisms that have not yet been identified or their diversity is not well understood6.<br><br>The expanded Tree of Life is particularly useful for assessing the biodiversity of an area,  [https://startlawyer.co.kr/bbs/board.php?bo_table=free&wr_id=46329 에볼루션 카지노] assisting to determine if certain habitats require special protection. This information can be used in a variety of ways,  [http://ncdsource.kanghehealth.com/evolution9475 에볼루션 슬롯] [https://git.kimcblog.com/evolution3331/scarlett1987/wiki/The-10-Most-Terrifying-Things-About-Evolution-Baccarat-Free-Experience 바카라 에볼루션], [http://www.suntool.top/evolution5290 http://www.suntool.top/], such as finding new drugs, battling diseases and improving the quality of crops. It is also valuable in conservation efforts. It can aid biologists in identifying the areas most likely to contain cryptic species with important metabolic functions that may be at risk from anthropogenic change. While funds to safeguard biodiversity are vital however, the most effective method to preserve the world's biodiversity is for more people in developing countries to be equipped with the knowledge to act locally to promote conservation from within.<br><br>Phylogeny<br><br>A phylogeny is also known as an evolutionary tree, illustrates the relationships between various groups of organisms. Scientists can create an phylogenetic chart which shows the evolution of taxonomic groups using molecular data and morphological similarities or differences. Phylogeny is essential in understanding biodiversity, evolution and genetics.<br><br>A basic phylogenetic tree (see Figure PageIndex 10 ) determines the relationship between organisms with similar traits that have evolved from common ancestors. These shared traits can be either analogous or homologous. Homologous traits are the same in terms of their evolutionary paths. Analogous traits could appear similar, but they do not share the same origins. Scientists put similar traits into a grouping called a the clade. All organisms in a group share a trait, such as amniotic egg production. They all came from an ancestor who had these eggs. The clades are then linked to create a phylogenetic tree to determine the organisms with the closest relationship. <br><br>Scientists utilize molecular DNA or RNA data to construct a phylogenetic graph that is more accurate and detailed. This information is more precise and provides evidence of the evolutionary history of an organism. The analysis of molecular data can help researchers determine the number of species that share an ancestor common to them and estimate their evolutionary age.<br><br>Phylogenetic relationships can be affected by a number of factors that include phenotypicplasticity. This is a kind of behavior that alters in response to particular environmental conditions. This can cause a characteristic to appear more similar to one species than another, obscuring the phylogenetic signal. This problem can be mitigated by using cladistics, which incorporates the combination of analogous and homologous features in the tree.<br><br>Additionally, phylogenetics aids determine the duration and rate at which speciation takes place. This information can help conservation biologists decide which species they should protect from extinction. In the end, it's the preservation of phylogenetic diversity that will result in a complete and balanced ecosystem.<br><br>Evolutionary Theory<br><br>The central theme of evolution is that organisms acquire different features over time due to their interactions with their surroundings. Several theories of evolutionary change have been developed by a wide range of scientists including the Islamic naturalist Nasir al-Din al-Tusi (1201-1274) who believed that an organism would evolve slowly according to its requirements, the Swedish botanist Carolus Linnaeus (1707-1778) who designed the modern hierarchical taxonomy, as well as Jean-Baptiste Lamarck (1744-1829) who suggested that use or disuse of traits can cause changes that could be passed onto offspring.<br><br>In the 1930s and 1940s, ideas from various fields, including genetics, natural selection and particulate inheritance - came together to form the modern evolutionary theory synthesis that explains how evolution is triggered by the variations of genes within a population and how these variants change in time as a result of natural selection. This model, known as genetic drift mutation, gene flow, and sexual selection, is the foundation of current evolutionary biology, and can be mathematically explained.<br><br>Recent advances in the field of evolutionary developmental biology have shown how variations can be introduced to a species via genetic drift, mutations and reshuffling of genes during sexual reproduction and migration between populations. These processes, as well as others such as directional selection and gene erosion (changes in frequency of genotypes over time) can result in evolution. Evolution is defined by changes in the genome over time and changes in the phenotype (the expression of genotypes in individuals).<br><br>Students can better understand phylogeny by incorporating evolutionary thinking in all areas of biology. In a study by Grunspan and co. It was found that teaching students about the evidence for evolution boosted their understanding of evolution during the course of a college biology. For more information on how to teach evolution read The Evolutionary Power of Biology in all Areas of Biology or Thinking Evolutionarily: a Framework for Integrating Evolution into Life Sciences Education.<br><br>Evolution in Action<br><br>Traditionally scientists have studied evolution through studying fossils, comparing species, and studying living organisms. Evolution is not a past event, but an ongoing process. Viruses evolve to stay away from new medications and bacteria mutate to resist antibiotics. Animals alter their behavior in the wake of the changing environment. The results are usually easy to see.<br><br>It wasn't until the late 1980s that biologists began realize that natural selection was also at work. The key to this is that different traits can confer the ability to survive at different rates as well as reproduction, and may be passed down from one generation to another.<br><br>In the past, if one allele - the genetic sequence that determines colour - appeared in a population of organisms that interbred, it could become more prevalent than any other allele. In time, this could mean that the number of moths with black pigmentation in a population may increase. The same is true for many other characteristics--including morphology and behavior--that vary among populations of organisms.<br><br>Monitoring evolutionary changes in action is easier when a species has a rapid generation turnover such as bacteria. Since 1988, Richard Lenski, a biologist, has studied twelve populations of E.coli that are descended from a single strain. Samples from each population were taken frequently and more than 50,000 generations of E.coli have passed.<br><br>Lenski's research has demonstrated that mutations can alter the rate of change and the efficiency at which a population reproduces. It also proves that evolution takes time--a fact that some people find hard to accept.<br><br>Microevolution can be observed in the fact that mosquito genes that confer resistance to pesticides are more common in populations where insecticides have been used. This is because the use of pesticides creates a pressure that favors those with resistant genotypes.<br><br>The rapidity of evolution has led to a growing appreciation of its importance especially in a planet which is largely shaped by human activities. This includes the effects of climate change, pollution and habitat loss, which prevents many species from adapting. Understanding the evolution process will help us make better decisions about the future of our planet and the lives of its inhabitants.