Evolution

In this companion volume to the seven-part PBS series, an award-winning science writer tells the story of the theory of evolution, from Darwin's seminal insights to the cutting-edge developments in 21st century science that have confirmed and extended Darwin's theories.

Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species was written long before paleontologists and geologists worked out the chronology of life on Earth, long before biologists uncovered the molecules that underlie heredity and natural selection. Author Carl Zimmer begins by allowing students to look over Darwin's shoulder as he reads the scientific theories of his day, studies at university, explores the natural world, and forms one of the most controversial scientific theories of all time.

Featuring more than 150 color illustrations, this remarkable book presents a rich and up-to-date view that guides students through the evolution of Darwin's great theory and introduces them to the research of leading scholars in the life sciences such as Stephen Jay Gould, Sarah Hrdy, Mary-Claire King, and Steven Pinker. Students will see how many of Darwin's ideas have been vindicated, and how evolution also turns out to work in ways he never anticipated.

In a rich narrative that will appeal to both science majors and nonmajors, Zimmer explores the far-reaching implications of Darwin's theory and emphasizes the power, significance, and relevance of evolution in our lives today. Afterall, we ourselves are the product of evolution, and we cannot tackle many of our gravest challenges-from the lethal resurgence of antibiotic resistant diseases to the wave of extinctions that looms before use-without a sound understanding of evolution.

Beginning with an introduction by renowned paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould, Evolution provides the most up-to-date information on topics ranging from Darwinian medicine, sexual selection, and the origins of language to evolutionary psychology and the controversies surrounding creationism. With Evolution, your students will take part in a remarkable scientific journey, from the emergence to the triumph of an idea.

The Evolution Project--a groundbreaking public television series and web site--offers teachers a free 40-page teacher's guide tied to state and national science high school biology curricula, and multimedia classroom resources such as online student lessons, short classroom videos, a web library, teacher methodology videos, and an online course for high school teachers to deepen teachers' understanding of evolutionary concepts and help them address obstacles to teaching evolution.

For more information, and to order other educational resources or videos of the series, visit www.pbs.org/evolution.