Posted: Feb 26, 2010 2:53 pm
Evolution Resources
This thread is a guide to sites that are either dedicated to evolution or have a significant area devoted to the subject. I have tried to stick to what can be recognised as reputable organisations. Sites for a younger audience are often mixed in with teaching resources so they are all there together. This is not a discussion thread please add any comments in the discussion thread!
Thanks
CJ
__________________________________________________________________________
One simple place to start.
This little video, exactly 10 minutes long is one of the best introductions to what evolution is and what evolution isn't. Short simple and worth 10 minutes of your time.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vss1VKN2rf8[/youtube]
Guides
Frequently asked questions about evolution What is evolution? Biological evolution refers to the cumulative changes that occur in a population over time. These changes are produced at the genetic level as organisms' genes mutate and/or recombine in different ways during reproduction and are passed on to future generations. Sometimes, individuals inherit new characteristics that give them a survival and reproductive advantage in their local environments; these characteristics tend to increase in frequency in the population, while those that are disadvantageous decrease in frequency. This process of differential survival and reproduction is known as natural selection. Non-genetic changes that occur during an organism's life span, such as increases in muscle mass due to exercise and diet, cannot be passed on to the next generation and are not examples of evolution.
Understanding Evolution, University of California Understanding Evolution is a non-commercial, education website, teaching the science and history of evolutionary biology. This site is here to help you understand what evolution is, how it works, how it factors into your life, how research in evolutionary biology is performed, and how ideas in this area have changed over time.
Howard Hughes Medical Institute 2005 holiday lectures. 4 hours of video on various aspects of evolution, including a fascinating introduction to Charles Darwin; both his work and his life.
The Talk Origins Archive is a collection of articles and essays, most of which have appeared in talk.origins at one time or another. The primary reason for this archive's existence is to provide mainstream scientific responses to the many frequently asked questions (FAQs) that appear in the talk.origins newsgroup and the frequently rebutted assertions of those advocating intelligent design or other creationist pseudosciences.
PBS Wide selection of videos, very accessible, including one about the evolution of the eye.
The complete works of Charles Darwin This website is the largest collection of writings by and about Darwin ever published. It contains his complete publications, thousands of handwritten manuscripts and the largest Darwin bibliography and manuscript catalogue. There are also over 200 supplementary texts, from reference works, reviews, obituaries, biographies and more.
Darwiniana and Evolution Darwiniana.org is a resource for anyone interested in evolution. It contains information on fossils, genetics, evolutionary theory, botany, zoology, creationism and ID. Extensive links to other reliable sites are provided. It even has a picture of A. R. Wallace. Who was Wallace? Go have a look.
Evolution Timeline The timeline of human evolution outlines the major events in the development of human species, and the evolution of humans' ancestors. It includes a brief explanation of some animals, species or genus, which are possible ancestors of Homo sapiens sapiens. It begins with the origin of life and presents a possible line of descendants that led to humans
Interactive Time Line Very informative interactive time line going back to the Big Bang. It takes a few seconds to load. Unless your screen is quite wide you can't see the right hand end of the line which is our bit.
Evolution and the Fossil Record This non-technical introduction to evolution, produced by the American Geological Institute in cooperation with the Paleontological Society, aims to help the general public gain a better understanding of one of the fundamental underlying concepts of modern science. Also has a 36 page booklet.
Tree of Life Web Project The Tree of Life Web Project (ToL) is a collaborative effort of biologists from around the world. On more than 9000 World Wide Web pages, the project provides information about the diversity of organisms on Earth, their evolutionary history (phylogeny), and characteristics.
Becoming Human Organisation The Institute of Human Origins (IHO) conducts, interprets and publicizes scientific research on the human career. IHO's unique approach brings together scientists from diverse disciplines to develop integrated, bio-behavioural investigations of human evolution. Through research, education, and the sponsorship of scholarly interaction, IHO advances scientific understanding of our origins and its contemporary relevance. Combining interdisciplinary expertise and targeted funding, IHO fosters the pursuit of integrated solutions to the most important questions regarding the course, cause and timing of events in human evolution.
Evolution: 24 myths and misconceptions So here is New Scientist's guide to some of the most common myths and misconceptions about evolution.
Academic Sites and Guides
The Society for the Study of Evolution Subscription site for serious study. The Society for the Study of Evolution was founded in March, 1946. The objectives of the Society for the Study of Evolution are the promotion of the study of organic evolution and the integration of the various fields of science concerned with evolution. The Society publishes the scientific journal Evolution and holds annual meetings in which scientific findings on evolutionary biology are presented and discussed.
Evolutionary Psychology Evolutionary Psychology is an open-access peer-reviewed journal that aims to foster communication between experimental and theoretical work on the one hand and historical, conceptual and interdisciplinary writings across the whole range of the biological and human sciences on the other.
The Paleobiology Database is an international scientific organization run by paleontological researchers from many institutions. We are bringing together taxonomic and distributional information about the entire fossil record of plants and animals. Our goal is to educate the public, summarize the literature for professionals, and foster statistical analyses of mass extinctions and other aspects of biodiversity. Note: you must register and have a scientific interest in the core data there are some publicly accessible elements.
New Scientist Another vast site with lots of recent developments from New Scientist magazine.
This thread is a guide to sites that are either dedicated to evolution or have a significant area devoted to the subject. I have tried to stick to what can be recognised as reputable organisations. Sites for a younger audience are often mixed in with teaching resources so they are all there together. This is not a discussion thread please add any comments in the discussion thread!
Thanks
CJ
__________________________________________________________________________
One simple place to start.
This little video, exactly 10 minutes long is one of the best introductions to what evolution is and what evolution isn't. Short simple and worth 10 minutes of your time.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vss1VKN2rf8[/youtube]
Guides
Frequently asked questions about evolution What is evolution? Biological evolution refers to the cumulative changes that occur in a population over time. These changes are produced at the genetic level as organisms' genes mutate and/or recombine in different ways during reproduction and are passed on to future generations. Sometimes, individuals inherit new characteristics that give them a survival and reproductive advantage in their local environments; these characteristics tend to increase in frequency in the population, while those that are disadvantageous decrease in frequency. This process of differential survival and reproduction is known as natural selection. Non-genetic changes that occur during an organism's life span, such as increases in muscle mass due to exercise and diet, cannot be passed on to the next generation and are not examples of evolution.
Understanding Evolution, University of California Understanding Evolution is a non-commercial, education website, teaching the science and history of evolutionary biology. This site is here to help you understand what evolution is, how it works, how it factors into your life, how research in evolutionary biology is performed, and how ideas in this area have changed over time.
Howard Hughes Medical Institute 2005 holiday lectures. 4 hours of video on various aspects of evolution, including a fascinating introduction to Charles Darwin; both his work and his life.
The Talk Origins Archive is a collection of articles and essays, most of which have appeared in talk.origins at one time or another. The primary reason for this archive's existence is to provide mainstream scientific responses to the many frequently asked questions (FAQs) that appear in the talk.origins newsgroup and the frequently rebutted assertions of those advocating intelligent design or other creationist pseudosciences.
PBS Wide selection of videos, very accessible, including one about the evolution of the eye.
The complete works of Charles Darwin This website is the largest collection of writings by and about Darwin ever published. It contains his complete publications, thousands of handwritten manuscripts and the largest Darwin bibliography and manuscript catalogue. There are also over 200 supplementary texts, from reference works, reviews, obituaries, biographies and more.
Darwiniana and Evolution Darwiniana.org is a resource for anyone interested in evolution. It contains information on fossils, genetics, evolutionary theory, botany, zoology, creationism and ID. Extensive links to other reliable sites are provided. It even has a picture of A. R. Wallace. Who was Wallace? Go have a look.
Evolution Timeline The timeline of human evolution outlines the major events in the development of human species, and the evolution of humans' ancestors. It includes a brief explanation of some animals, species or genus, which are possible ancestors of Homo sapiens sapiens. It begins with the origin of life and presents a possible line of descendants that led to humans
Interactive Time Line Very informative interactive time line going back to the Big Bang. It takes a few seconds to load. Unless your screen is quite wide you can't see the right hand end of the line which is our bit.
Evolution and the Fossil Record This non-technical introduction to evolution, produced by the American Geological Institute in cooperation with the Paleontological Society, aims to help the general public gain a better understanding of one of the fundamental underlying concepts of modern science. Also has a 36 page booklet.
Tree of Life Web Project The Tree of Life Web Project (ToL) is a collaborative effort of biologists from around the world. On more than 9000 World Wide Web pages, the project provides information about the diversity of organisms on Earth, their evolutionary history (phylogeny), and characteristics.
Becoming Human Organisation The Institute of Human Origins (IHO) conducts, interprets and publicizes scientific research on the human career. IHO's unique approach brings together scientists from diverse disciplines to develop integrated, bio-behavioural investigations of human evolution. Through research, education, and the sponsorship of scholarly interaction, IHO advances scientific understanding of our origins and its contemporary relevance. Combining interdisciplinary expertise and targeted funding, IHO fosters the pursuit of integrated solutions to the most important questions regarding the course, cause and timing of events in human evolution.
Evolution: 24 myths and misconceptions So here is New Scientist's guide to some of the most common myths and misconceptions about evolution.
Academic Sites and Guides
The Society for the Study of Evolution Subscription site for serious study. The Society for the Study of Evolution was founded in March, 1946. The objectives of the Society for the Study of Evolution are the promotion of the study of organic evolution and the integration of the various fields of science concerned with evolution. The Society publishes the scientific journal Evolution and holds annual meetings in which scientific findings on evolutionary biology are presented and discussed.
Evolutionary Psychology Evolutionary Psychology is an open-access peer-reviewed journal that aims to foster communication between experimental and theoretical work on the one hand and historical, conceptual and interdisciplinary writings across the whole range of the biological and human sciences on the other.
The Paleobiology Database is an international scientific organization run by paleontological researchers from many institutions. We are bringing together taxonomic and distributional information about the entire fossil record of plants and animals. Our goal is to educate the public, summarize the literature for professionals, and foster statistical analyses of mass extinctions and other aspects of biodiversity. Note: you must register and have a scientific interest in the core data there are some publicly accessible elements.
New Scientist Another vast site with lots of recent developments from New Scientist magazine.