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Bioscience Briefing

For info about biomedical funding, animal research and other bioscience issues, click here.

Science Policy Announcements

For the latest news from the APS Science Policy click here.

Resource Book Now Available

Click here for more info on The APS Resource Book for the Design of Animal Exercise Protocols.

Resources For Teaching Evolution

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The American Physiological Society supports the teaching of evolution in schools as part of a comprehensive biology curriculum. Scientists accept the modern theory of evolution as an important natural process that allows us to understand the history of life and the adaptation of organisms to changing environments. The links listed below provide the perspectives of many different organizations on the teaching of evolution, as well as a variety of resources for teachers and students.

Evolution Info and Articles

FASEB Evolution Resources

A Role for Scientists in Science Education http://evolution.faseb.org/sciencecoalition

FASEB compiles resources geared towards scientists who educate about evolution: http://evolution.faseb.org

The National Academy of Sciences

Explore the updated version of Science, Evolution and Creationism, a publication of the National Academy of Sciences

Links to statements, articles and free online books: http://nationalacademies.org/evolution/

Decision in Dover, PA Intelligent Design Case

On December 20, 2005, a federal judge in Pennsylvania ruled that the Dover area school district could not teach Intelligent Design (ID) as part of its science curriculum. Also included in the 138-page decision was a ruling that ID does not meet reasonable standards to be considered science. The landmark ruling is unlikely to be appealed by the school board as the ID proponents were voted off the board in last November’s elections. http://www.sciohost.org/ncse/kvd/kitzmiller_decision_20051220.pdf

Science Magazine’s Breakthrough of the Year 2005

In the December 23, 2005, edition of Science Magazine, editors singled out advances in evolution science as the Breakthrough of the Year, citing studies on the chimpanzee genome, speciation, the human haplotype map and viruses including human and avian influenza. A fifteen minute video clip reviews some of the main advances and explains how they provide evidence in support of evolution. http://biocompare.com/e.asp?e=15869

HHMI Special Lectures on Evolution

The Howard Hughes Medical Institute presented Evolution: constant change and common threads, a series of four lectures in early December, 2005. The lectures are available as a webcast at www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/lectures/

The American Association for the Advancement of Science

Links to frequently asked questions, position statements and commentaries by Alan Leshner of AAAS. http://www.aaas.org/news/press_room/evolution/

Understanding Evolution

An evolution website for teachers from University of CA http://evolution.berkeley.edu/

National Center for Science Education

http://www.ncseweb.org/

National Science Teachers Association

Links to publications, press releases and other resources. http://www.nsta.org/evresources

Responses to President Bush’s statements on Intelligent Design

http://www.the-aps.org/pa/policy/bioissues/nsta-bush.htm

“15 Answers to Creationist Nonsense”

An article from Scientific American. http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=15-answers-to-creationist

New York Times Article

On scientists staying out of the fight with the Kansas State Board of Education: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/21/science/21evo.html

The Washington Post

For a straightforward explanation of natural selection and an example drawn from the recently sequenced chimpanzee genome, see this article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/25/AR2005092501177.html

“The Facts of the Evolution: Fighting the Endarkenment”

an editorial in the FASEB Journal by editor-in-chief, Gerald Weissmann. http://www.fasebj.org/cgi/content/full/19/12
/1581?ijkey=JDGP67fLHMj8o&keytype=ref&siteid=fasebj

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Organizational Position Statements

Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology

http://opa.faseb.org/pdf/EvolutionStatement12.20.05.pdf

National Association of Biology Teachers

http://www.nabt.org/websites/institution/index.php?p=92

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Additional Teaching Resources

The American Institute for Biological Sciences

Information and a listserve for teachers who are teaching evolution in a difficult atmosphere: http://www.aibs.org/public-policy/teaching_evolution.html

PBS

Online courses, videos, resources and activities for students and teachers: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/index.html

The 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/monkeytrial/

American Geological Institute

Resources on challenges to teaching evolution state-by-state: http://www.agiweb.org/gap/evolution/

Concept Cartoons About Evolution

These cartoons illustrate common misconceptions about evolution. Please thoroughly evaluate the explanations given to be sure they are in line with your curriculum. http://www.biologylessons.sdsu.edu/cartoons/concepts.html

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