tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post7594739275085403958..comments2024-03-27T14:50:47.345-04:00Comments on <center>Sandwalk</center>: National Academies: Conceptual Framework for New Science Education StandardsLarry Moranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05756598746605455848noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post-50659089398731420202010-08-04T16:38:38.709-04:002010-08-04T16:38:38.709-04:00It seems disgraceful to be trying to produce scien...It seems disgraceful to be trying to produce science standards with so few active scientists on the committee. <br /><br />I see that they did have one person on the committee who has thought a lot about evolution, Marc Kirschner, but he resigned early in the year (http://www8.nationalacademies.org/cp/CommitteeView.aspx?key=49188) -- wonder why.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post-28474947453099217812010-08-01T17:39:43.870-04:002010-08-01T17:39:43.870-04:00The objetive and target audience are different.
F...The objetive and target audience are different.<br /><br />Futuyma gives a <b>definition</b>.<br /><br />The Academy provides <b>guidelines</b> on a whole topic to further elaboration on class. Application and biodiversity are ON topic.<br /><br />However, factual errors are not. I agree that the words on mutation plus the lack of mention of randomness (including drif) does nothing to avoid the fallacy of purpose.Enriquenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post-9211618902953514672010-07-26T19:16:07.692-04:002010-07-26T19:16:07.692-04:00"Mutations most often produce non-viable indi..."Mutations most often produce non-viable individuals."<br /><br />I guess we're all dead then.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post-91537859729541490352010-07-23T18:01:21.918-04:002010-07-23T18:01:21.918-04:00Larry asks: "Why is the committee confused a...Larry asks: "Why is the committee confused about this?"<br /><br />Perhaps because the committee consists of 17 members, 2 of whom have training in biology. A Drosophila geneticist and an ecologist who specializes in rainforest species loss.Jim Menegayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06217224823822142530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post-26914390582063345192010-07-23T06:24:38.432-04:002010-07-23T06:24:38.432-04:00Nick,
That's not the point. The point is tha...Nick, <br /><br />That's not the point. The point is that Futuyma represents evolution correctly no matter what his personal bias. Futuyma is not confused about the difference between evolution and natural selection. He includes random genetic drift as an important mechanism of evolution.<br /><br />The Ontario high school curriculum also teaches random genetic drift. Why did this committee leave it out when it is, beyond doubt, one of the core conceptual frameworks of biology?<br /><br />Futuyma doesn't mix his science with statements about how it affects humans and how humans should behave towards the environment and towards other species. Futuyma knows that this isn't part of the conceptual framework for science. Why is the committee confused about this?<br /><br>Larry Moranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05756598746605455848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post-69005912547438611902010-07-22T19:31:01.809-04:002010-07-22T19:31:01.809-04:00Futuyma is equally adaptationist and microevolutio...Futuyma is equally adaptationist and microevolution-focused, I'd say...NickMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04765417807335152285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post-63362001819529997772010-07-22T16:07:33.059-04:002010-07-22T16:07:33.059-04:00I'm not completely happy with either one. I th...I'm not completely happy with either one. I think that evolutionary theory seeks to explain *three* things - unity and diversity (as the National Academies proposal says) plus "adaptedness". <br /><br />I would be happy with allowing the academy to emphasize NS as the major or sole explanation of adaptedness if they would just back off a bit on using it as the sole explanation of diversity.Jim Menegayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06217224823822142530noreply@blogger.com