The Advantage of Sex

Why did sex evolve? The likely answers, in this essay for the Evolution Web site by science journalist Matt Ridley, may surprise you.

Animal Body Plans: Homeobox Genes

The homeobox genes that define the basic body plan of mice and fruit flies are illustrated in this graphic from The Human Evolution Coloring Book by Adrienne Zihlman. The accompanying article describes how these genes act as "molecular architects" in all animal species.

Accessibility features: Long Description

Charles Darwin

Students learn about Charles Darwin -- his personal history, his strengths as an observer and independent thinker, and how he developed the theory of evolution.

The Common Genetic Code

Paul Nurse describes his research that showed that humans share some genes with organisms as different from us as simple brewer's yeast. Footage from Secret of Life: "Immortal Thread."

Accessibility features: Caption

Complex Relations

In this text excerpted from chapter 3, "Struggle for Existence," of Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species, Darwin draws on firsthand and historical information for his observations about evolution.

Darwin: Reluctant Rebel

This video segment from Evolution: "Darwin's Dangerous Idea," together with interviews with Daniel Dennett and James Moore, depicts Darwin struggling with publicizing his revolutionary theory.

Accessibility features: Caption

Darwin's Diary

Delve into the private thoughts of a reluctant revolutionary in this Evolution Web feature.

Darwin's Letters: Collecting Evidence

This group of letters is a sample of the extensive correspondence Darwin carried on with a wide group of friends and colleagues as he collected evidence to support his theory of evolution by natural selection. From Charles Darwin's Letters: A Selection 1825-1859.

Darwin's Letters to Lyell

In this letter written to his friend and mentor Charles Lyell less than three weeks after the publication of On the Origin of Species, Darwin describes the reaction of the great anatomist Richard Owen to his theory. From Charles Darwin's Letters: A Selection 1825-1859.

Evolutionary Roots of Language

This video excerpt from NOVA scienceNOW looks at how language and tool-making may have coevolved.

Accessibility features: Caption, Transcript

Evolution Revolution

From the Evolution Web site, explore the rise of a revolutionary idea and the controversies that surround it.

Evolving Ideas: Who Was Charles Darwin?

This video from Evolution highlights Charles Darwin's personal struggle to bring to light his theory of evolution through natural selection.

Accessibility features: Caption

Evolving Ideas: Why Does Evolution Matter Now?

In this video from Evolution, an exploration of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis in the Russian prison system highlights one reason it is important to understand evolution.

Accessibility features: Caption

The History of the Theory of Evolution

Students make a timeline to learn where the theory of evolution falls in the history of scientific thought and how scientific advances are interwoven with world history.

Introduction to Evolution: How Did We Get Here?

In this lesson, students will use videos from The Human Spark to learn about Darwin’s theory of evolution and how it applies to human development throughout earth’s history.

Life As We Know It

Using video segments from The Human Spark, students will explore how life on Earth began in this lesson on evolution.

Life's Grand Design

Are nature's complex forms evidence of "intelligent design"? In this Evolution essay, biologist Kenneth Miller explains how the processes of evolution account for complex structures such as the human eye.

An Origin of Species

In this Evolution Web feature, witness for yourself how a new species can evolve as you observe natural selection and adaptive radiation in action.

Reverse Evolution Machine

In this video adapted from KQED's QUEST, learn how scientist David Haussler is using biotechnology to reconstruct ancient genomes in an effort to find out how animals have evolved over time.

Accessibility features: Caption

The Reverse Evolution Machine

Dr. David Haussler has created a new method of detecting dinosaur DNA, called ”computational genomics.” In this video from QUEST produced by KQED, learn about this innovative way of discovering dinosaur DNA.