Biology Education Is Evolution Education

Abstract

Some mark the passage of time with birthdays, holiday seasons, the New Year, the end or start of school, and myriad other personally relevant and noteworthy events. At The American Biology Teacher we are pleased to continue the tradition started by my predecessor with a theme issue each February to honor the birth of Charles Darwin, paying particular attention to the science of evolution and its place in the teaching of biology. Many might ignore an event that occurred 207 years ago, but those of us who care about high-quality biology teaching aren't bothered by the awkwardness of this particular number or that of the other anniversary that occurs each year. Let's say “Happy birthday” to Darwin and to the 157-year-old Origin of Species and the revolution it began. You have both held up nicely! All kidding aside, Darwin's ideas about how life has changed through time have weathered attacks both religious and political, even as they have neatly accommodated new scientific evidence and interpretations. Darwin's work still informs the science of biology so powerfully that it is impossible not to quote the evolutionary biologist Theodosius Dobzhansky, who said Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light …