Evolution Assignment

Laboratory 14

Evolution Laboratory Assignment

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This is going to be a fascinating assignment that will allow you to explore some aspects of evolution.

Assignment

I have some evolution links for you to use as a starting point on the Geology 102 home page.
The left column of the table contains links to class notes, and the right column is Additional References. Or, click on the links below.

Evolution vs.Creation Science (Ontario Centre for Religious Tolerance).
I would like EVERYONE to investigate this site, particularly the page on "Beliefs of Evolutionists and Creation Scientists"
University of California, Berkeley
Evolution - Talk-Origins Archive
Frequently asked questions on evolution from Talk-Origins Archive
Read about : Introduction to Evolutionary Biology
God and Evolution
Evolution is a Fact and a Theory
Problems with a global flood

ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS:

1 WHAT IS THE MODERN SYNTHESIS?

2 WHAT IS MACROEVOLUTION? EXPLAIN.

3 WHAT IS PUNCTUATED EQUILIBRIUM?

4 WHAT IS SOME OF THE EVIDENCE FOR EVOLUTION?

5 ARE THERE EXAMPLES OF OBSERVED SPECIATION? List and explain.

6 WHAT ARE THE VERTEBRATE TRANSITION FOSSILS?

THE FOLLOWING IS EXTRA CREDIT.

You should also take this opportunity to learn how to use some of the Web search-engines.
Try the following:
Yahoo. This search engine provides a clickable list of topics that you may find to be of general interest to you. To locate the evolution references, look under Science - Click on Biology - and then on Evolution (32 references). You may find the Aquatic Ape Theory interesting. Scroll on down and see a listing of general evolution sites. You may also want to explore Evolution vs. Creationism.
Also try Altavista, a more complete search engine. You can type in "evolution" or "science biology evolution" or "science geology evolution" or "evolution fossils geology" or some other combinations.

There are a lot of references on evolution. Try to see a diversity of viewpoints, and be sure to see some of the ones on the Geology 102 page. You want to show that you have read two or three web pages on evolution, in addition to the AAT pages. You are required to know about the evidence in support of evolution (we will discuss this in class). The diversity of opinions you encounter will be stimulating and exciting. Keep an open mind. Look for well documented evidence (photos? maps?), work done by trained professionals (name, place of employment, dates listed), etc. Do not be offended by the things you read.

Remember, the internet is open to ANYONE - well trained people as well as untrained people in any particular field. Basically, anybody can put anything out there for you to read. See as much as you can, and make your own decisions.

Please write a 3-paged typed double spaced paper, with a font size of 10 or 12 and a 1-inch margin all the way around.

See Guide to Writing College Papers in your syllabus.

Just write about what you learned. You may add a brief opinion at the end, but the main purpose of the paper is to document the ideas you encounter.

Please use web resources, and cite them correctly, following one of the following guides.

Include web page reference locations (the http address of pages you reference) so that we can come back to them.
Also, print out any pages that you cite so that I can see the original source.

Let me know if you have any problems.

Read about the Aquatic Ape Theory at one of the following sites. This theory is probably not valid, but it is interesting reading and very thought-provoking. It makes the argument that humans have many features in common with marine mammals. While there is a very compelling list of similarities, there is LITTLE OR NO HARD EVIDENCE to support the theory. Read it and see what you think. This theory is not generally regarded seriously, but you will be amazed at the list of features we have in common with marine mammals. What does it all mean? (And is it all true?)

"There are very good reasons why this theory is dismissed by almost all biologists. It's a classic example of why a little knowledge about evolution can be a very dangerous thing."U. Toronto Evolution page

Here are some additional references to the AAT that I have found:

You may also be interested in researching some aspects of human origins or evolutionary medicine or darwinian medicine. Here are some starter references. Also check the search engines (see below).