Readings and Resources

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Readings The following links go to selected readings on evolution.
Teaching Evolution
	Teaching About Evolution and the Nature of Science A thorough guide to evolution for teachers, including classroom activities and answers to frequently asked questions.
Discussions of Evolutionary Concepts
	A Feeling for the Fossil Record: An Interview with Geerat Vermeij A fascinating discussion with paleobiologist Geerat Vermeij about arms races, extinction, biodiversity, and his work with mollusks. On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection This is the full text of the first edition of Darwin's On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or The Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life. Random Genetic Drift This essay on the Talk.Origins website summarizes genetic drift as an important mechanism of evolution. Evolution Creates the Same Design Again and Again This a New York Times article on the topic of convergent evolution – examples, causes, and consequences. Observed Instances of Speciation This Talk.Origins discussion explains the difficulties of the species concept. Species, Speciation and the Environment In this article, paleontologist Niles Eldredge chronicles the history of the study of speciation, highlighting the notion of punctuated equilibrium. Transitional Vertebrate Fossils FAQ This section of the Talk.Origins website describes an impressive array of transitional vertebrate species known from the fossil record. Lessons in the Diversity and Evolution of Eukaryotes An essay on the evolution of eukaryotes by Scott Dawson. The Self-Assembly of Organic Molecules and the Origin of Cellular Life David Deamer discusses the origin of cellular life. Reprinted from a Paleontological Society special publication.
Nature of Science
	The Nature of Science Science for All Americans Online offers a concise and accurate introduction to the fundamental aspects of science. Evolution is a Fact and a Theory This essay on the Talk.Origins website reconciles evolution as both fact and theory in light of the nature of science. The Method of Scientific Investigation This is a full-text version of Thomas Henry Huxley's original article on the process of scientific investigation.
Relevance of Evolution
	Antibiotic Resistance: A Growing Threat This site, hosted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, includes a series of articles summarizing the factors contributing to the problem of antibiotic resistance.
Dealing with Roadblocks and Misconceptions
	Creationism and the Emergence of Animals: The Original Spin The origin of animals, the "Cambrian explosion", and what's wrong with anti-evolutionist claims about these events. The Domains of Science and Human Preferences A discussion of natural evidence, belief, and the need for greater understanding of science. Not (Just) in Kansas Anymore A look at the creationist movement across the United States.
Geologic Time
	The Age of the Earth How old is the Earth, and how do we know?
General Resources
	Introduction to Evolutionary Biology This is an extensive introduction to the mechanics of evolution, as well as the history and significance of evolutionary thought, on the Talk.Origins web site. Evolution and the Fossil Record A non-technical introduction to evolution, produced by the American Geological Institute in cooperation with the Paleontological Society Evolution, Science and Society A good overview of the contributions evolutionary science has made to biology, and the relevance of studying evolution.

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