Thinking Evolutionarily: Evolution Education Across the Life Sciences: Summary of a Convocation.

摘要

Evolution is the central unifying theme of biology. Yet today, more than a century and a half after Charles Darwin proposed the idea of evolution through natural selection, the topic is often relegated to a handful of chapters in textbooks and a few class sessions in introductory biology courses. In many introductory biology courses (both undergraduate and high school), and even in some upper-level courses, evolution is not covered at all. In recent years, a movement has been gaining momentum that is aimed at radically changing this situation. An increasing number of research scientists, educators, and education researchers are pointing to the many benefits of teaching evolution throughout the biology curriculum. Understanding evolutionary processes is essential to achieving a full understanding of the variety, relationships, and functioning of living things. An appreciation of evolutionary principles can enhance and enliven study of virtually all other areas of biology, such as embryological development, the spatial distribution of organisms, anatomy and physiology, behavior, interactions among organisms, processes of disease, the biological history of all species including humans, and a greater appreciation for biodiversity and the natural environment.