Getting to evo-devo: concepts and challenges for students learning evolutionary developmental biology.

ABSTRACT: To examine how well biology majors have achieved the necessary foundation in evolution, numerous studies have examined how students learn natural selection. However, no studies to date have examined how students learn developmental aspects of evolution (evo-devo). Although evo-devo plays an increasing role in undergraduate biology curricula, we find that instruction often addresses development cursorily, with most of the treatment embedded within instruction on evolution. Based on results of surveys and interviews with students, we suggest that teaching core concepts (CCs) within a framework that integrates supporting concepts (SCs) from both evolutionary and developmental biology can improve evo-devo instruction. We articulate CCs, SCs, and foundational concepts (FCs) that provide an inte

SUBMITTER: Hiatt A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3763016 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature