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Evolution Site – Teaching About Evolution Despite the best efforts of biology educators, misconceptions about evolution remain. Pop science nonsense has led many people to think that biologists don't believe in evolution. This rich Web site – companion to the PBS series – provides teachers with materials which support evolution education and avoid the kinds of misconceptions that make it difficult to understand. It's organized in the “bread crumb” format to aid in navigation and orientation. Definitions Evolution is a complicated and challenging subject to teach effectively. It is often misunderstood by non-scientists, and even scientists have been guilty of using a definition that confuses the issue. This is especially applicable to discussions about the meaning of the word itself. It is therefore crucial to define the terms that are used in evolutionary biology. Understanding Evolution's website does this in a simple and efficient manner. The website is a companion to the series that first aired in 2001, but can also function as an independent resource. The material is presented in a nested fashion that aids navigation and orientation. The site defines terms like common ancestor, gradual process, and adaptation. These terms help define the nature and significance of evolution to other scientific concepts. The site also provides an overview of how the concept of evolution has been tested and confirmed. This information will help to dispel the myths created by creationists. It is also possible to get the glossary of terms used in evolutionary biology. These terms include: Adaptation: The tendency of heritable characteristics to become more suitable to a particular setting. This is a result of natural selection. Organisms with more adaptable characteristics are more likely than those with less-adapted traits to survive and reproduce. Common ancestor (also known as common ancestor): The most recent ancestor that is shared by two or more species. The common ancestor can be identified by studying the DNA of the species. Deoxyribonucleic Acid: A huge biological molecular that contains the information needed for cell replication. The information is stored in nucleotide sequences that are strung into long chains, referred to as chromosomes. Mutations are responsible for the creation of new genetic information inside cells. Coevolution is the relationship between two species where evolutionary changes of one species influence evolutionary changes of the other. Coevolution is evident in the interactions between predator and prey, or parasites and hosts. Origins Species (groups that can interbreed), evolve through a series of natural changes in their offspring's traits. These changes are caused by a variety of factors such as natural selection, genetic drift and mixing of gene pools. The development of a new species could take thousands of years and the process could be slowed down or speeded up by environmental factors like climate change or the competition for food or habitat. The Evolution site tracks the evolution of a variety of animal and plant groups through time with a focus on the key changes that took place in the evolution of each group's history. It also explores the evolutionary history of humans which is particularly important for students to know. When Darwin wrote the Origin, only a handful of antediluvian human fossils had been discovered. The famous skullcap, along with the bones that accompanied it, was discovered in 1856 in the Little Feldhofer Grotto of Germany. It is now known as an early Homo neanderthalensis. Although the skullcap was not published until 1858, which was a year before the first edition of the Origin was published, it's very unlikely that Darwin had seen or heard of it. While the site is focused on biology, it also includes a good deal of information on geology and paleontology. Among the best features of the Web site are a set of timelines that illustrate how geological and climatic conditions have changed over time, as well as an outline of the distribution of some fossil groups listed on the site. The site is a companion for a PBS television series, but it can also be used as an educational source for teachers and students. The site is very well-organized and offers clear links between the introduction content in Understanding Evolution (developed with support from the National Science Foundation) and the more specialized elements of the museum Web site. These links facilitate the transition from the cartoon-like style of the Understanding Evolution pages to the more sophisticated world of research science. Particularly there are links to John Endler's experiments using guppies that illustrate the importance of ecology in evolutionary theory. Diversity The evolution of life on Earth has led to a wide variety of plants, animals, and insects. Paleobiology is the study of these creatures within their geographical context and offers many advantages over the modern observational and research methods of examining evolutionary phenomena. Paleobiology is able to study not just the processes and events that happen regularly or over time, but also the distribution and frequency of various animal groups across geological time. The website is divided into different options to gain knowledge about evolution. One of the paths, “Evolution 101,” takes the viewer through the complexities and evidence of evolution. The path also examines myths regarding evolution, and the background of evolutionary thought. Each of the other sections of the Evolution site is similarly developed, with materials that can support a variety of curriculum levels and pedagogical styles. The site has a range of interactive and multimedia resources which include videos, animations, and virtual laboratories in addition to general textual content. The breadcrumb-like arrangement of the content aids in navigation and orientation on the massive Web site. The page “Coral Reef Connections” For instance, the page “Coral Reef Connections” gives a brief overview of the relationships between corals and interactions with other organisms and zooms in on one clam that is able to communicate with its neighbors and react to changes in conditions of the water at the reef level. This page, along with the other multidisciplinary, multimedia, and interactive pages on the website, provide an excellent introduction to a wide range of topics in evolutionary biology. The material also provides an overview of the importance of natural selection as well as the concept of phylogenetic analysis, which is a key tool for understanding the evolution of change. Evolutionary Theory Evolution is a common thread that connects all branches of biology. A vast collection of resources can help teachers teach about evolution across all life sciences. One resource, which is the companion to PBS's TV series Understanding Evolution is an excellent example of a Web page that offers both depth as well as wide range of educational resources. The site has a variety of interactive learning modules. It also features an encased “bread crumb” structure that allows students to move from the cartoon style of Understanding Evolution to elements on this huge site that are more closely linked to the field of research science. Animation that introduces the concept of genetics is linked to a page that highlights John Endler's experiments with artificial selection using guppies on native ponds in Trinidad. The Evolution Library on this website contains a large multimedia library of assets related to evolution. The content is organized into curriculum-based pathways that correspond to the learning objectives set out in biology standards. It includes seven short videos designed specifically for use in the classroom, and can be streamed at no cost or purchased on DVD. Many important questions remain at the heart of evolutionary biology, such as what triggers evolution and how fast it occurs. This is especially true in the case of human evolution which was a challenge to reconcile religious beliefs that held that humanity has a unique place in the creation and a soul with the notion that our physical traits evolved from apes. There are also a number of other ways evolution can occur including natural selection, which is the most popular theory. However, scientists also study other kinds of evolution like mutation, genetic drift and sexual selection, among other things. Many fields of inquiry have a conflict with literal interpretations of religious texts, evolutionary biology has been the subject of fierce debate and opposition from religious fundamentalists. While certain religions have been able to reconcile their beliefs with the ideas of evolution, other religions haven't.