5 The 5 Reasons Evolution Site Is Actually A Good Thing
Evolution Site - Teaching About Evolution
Despite the best efforts by biology teachers, there are still misconceptions about evolution. People who have been exposed to popular science myths often assume that biologists claim they do not believe in evolution.
This rich Web site, which is a complement to the PBS program offers teachers resources that promote evolution education, while avoiding the kinds of misconceptions which hinder it. It's laid out in the "bread crumb" format to make navigation and orientation easier.
Definitions
Evolution is a complicated and 에볼루션 difficult subject to teach effectively. It is often misunderstood by non-scientists, and even some scientists have been guilty of using a definition that confuses the issue. This is especially applicable to debates about the nature of the word.
Therefore, it is essential 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 to the show which first aired in 2001, but it can also function as an independent resource. The content is presented in an organized manner that makes it easier to navigate and 에볼루션 comprehend.
The site defines terms such as common ancestor and gradual process. These terms help to frame the nature of evolution and its relationship to other concepts in science. The website provides a summary of the manner in which evolution has been examined. This information can help dispel myths created by creationists.
You can also access a glossary which includes terms that are 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. Organisms with more adaptable characteristics are more likely than those with less adapted characteristics to survive and reproduce.
Common ancestor (also known as common ancestor) is the most recent ancestor that is shared by two or more species. By analyzing the DNA from these species it is possible to determine the common ancestor.
Deoxyribonucleic acid: 에볼루션게이밍 A large biological molecule that holds the information needed for cell replication. The information is stored in a sequence of nucleotides that are strung together to form long chains, called chromosomes. Mutations are the reason behind the creation of new genetic information within cells.
Coevolution is a relation between two species where evolution of one species are influenced evolutionary changes of the other. Coevolution is evident in the interactions between predator and prey, or parasite and hosts.
Origins
Species (groups of individuals that can interbreed) develop through a series of natural changes in the traits of their offspring. These changes are caused by a variety, including natural selection, genetic drift and mixing of genes. The development of new species can take thousands of years. Environmental circumstances, such as changes in the climate or competition for food or habitat can impede or accelerate the process.
The Evolution site tracks the development of a number of different species of plants and animals over time and focuses on the most significant transitions that occurred in each group's history. It also focuses on human evolution as a subject that is of particular interest to students.
When Darwin wrote the Origin, only a handful of antediluvian human fossils had been found. Among them was the famous skullcap and the associated bones discovered in 1856 in the Little Feldhofer Grotto in Germany that is now thought to be an early Homo neanderthalensis. It is highly unlikely that Darwin knew about the skullcap, which was first published in 1858, which was a year following the initial edition of The Origin. Origin.
While the site focuses on biology, it also includes a good deal of information about geology as well as paleontology. One of the most appealing features on the site are a set of timelines which show how climatic and geological conditions changed over time, and an outline of the geographical distribution of some fossil groups that are featured on the site.
The site is a companion for the PBS television series, but it could also be used as an educational resource by teachers and 에볼루션 슬롯게임 (yogicentral.science) students. The site is very well organized and provides clear links between the introduction content in Understanding Evolution (developed with support from the National Science Foundation) and the more sophisticated components of the museum's Web site. These hyperlinks make it easier to move from the cartoon-style Understanding Evolution pages into the more sophisticated realms of research science. Particularly there are links to John Endler's research with guppies that illustrate the importance of ecology in evolutionary theory.
Diversity
The evolution of life on Earth has produced a diversity of plants, animals, and insects. Paleobiology is the study of these creatures within their geographical context and offers a number of advantages over modern observational and experimental methods in its exploration of evolutionary processes. Paleobiology is able to study not only the process and events that occur frequently or over time, but also the distribution and frequency of different groups of animals across geological time.
The site is divided into several optional paths to learning evolution, including "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 misconceptions about evolution, and also the history of evolutionary thought.
Each of the other major sections of the Evolution site is equally constructed, with materials that can support a variety of different pedagogical levels and curriculum levels. In addition to the standard textual content, the site offers a wide range of interactive and multimedia resources like videos, animations, and virtual laboratories. The breadcrumb-like organization of the content assists with navigation and orientation on the massive website.
For instance, the page "Coral Reef Connections" gives a brief overview of coral relationships and their interaction with other organisms. Then, it concentrates on a specific clam that can communicate with its neighbors and react to changes in the water conditions at the reef level. This page, as well as the other multidisciplinary multimedia and interactive pages, provides an excellent introduction to the many areas of evolutionary biology. The information also includes a discussion of the role of natural selection and the concept of phylogenetic analysis, which is an important tool in understanding evolutionary changes.
Evolutionary Theory
Evolution is an underlying thread that runs through all branches of biology. A rich collection of resources supports teaching about evolution across the life sciences.
One resource, a companion to the PBS television series Understanding Evolution, is an outstanding example of an Web site that offers both depth and breadth in its educational resources. The site offers a range of interactive learning modules. It also has a "bread crumb structure" that helps students move away from the cartoon-like style that is used in Understanding Evolution and onto elements of this vast website that are closely linked to the worlds of research science. An animation that introduces students to the concept of genetics links to a page about John Endler's artificial-selection experiments with Guppies in native ponds in Trinidad.
The Evolution Library on this website is a vast multimedia library of assets related with evolution. The content is organized according to curricula-based paths that correspond to the learning goals set forth in the biology standards. It contains seven short videos that are intended for use in the classroom. They can be streamed or purchased as DVDs.
Evolutionary biology remains a field of study with a lot of important questions, including what causes evolution and how fast it takes place. This is particularly applicable to human evolution where it's been difficult to reconcile the notion that the physical characteristics of humans evolved from apes, and the religions that believe that humans are unique among living things and holds a a special place in creation with soul.
There are a variety of other ways in which evolution could occur, with natural selection as the most well-known theory. Scientists also study other kinds such as mutation, genetic drift, and sexual selection.
Although many scientific fields of study are in conflict with literal interpretations in religious texts, evolution biology has been a source of intense debate and resistance from religious fundamentalists. While certain religions have managed to reconcile their beliefs with the ideas of evolution, other religions aren't.