Different people assign different reasons as to what factors induced humans to have a moral code, but according to the New York Times article one psychologist, Dr. Haidt, believes that morality developed due to evolutionary reasons. Even though evolution operates at an individual level, and natural selection provides for traits that render survival for an individual easier, in a cohesive society such as ours, social responsibility is more advantageous than selfish behavior. Hence, as group living became more prevalent in ancient human societies, morality developed. Religion also was a factor in boosting morality by creating taboos, and the line between right and wrong subsequently became more clearly defined.

Evonet.org

http://evonet.sdsc.edu/

The website has links to several fields of evolution and serves as a helpful guide to current research in evolution.

Grade Level: Undergraduate, Graduate

The Effects of Cognitive Moral Development and Reinforcement Contingencies on Ethical Decision Making

http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-05172000-19000040/

A scientific study conducted to research how decision-making is affected by moral development.

Grade Level: Graduate, Professional

The Evolution of Mammals

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammals/Evolution.shtml

The website contains information on how mammals evolved in different time periods.

Grade Level: Middle School, High School

The New York Times article describes the nearly hopeless situation in India, where cancer and AIDS patients are undergoing painful deaths due to the government’s unwilliness to loosen the laws on morphine use. India is the largest exporter of opium to other countries, such as the United States, where opium is converted to morphine for legal use medical use to ease the unnecessary pain of patients. On the one hand, Indian government officials fear that, if morphine is legalized in the country, drug could fall into the wrong hands. Morphine carries a very strong stigma there stemming from the days of the British occupation. On the other hand, a handful of doctors that care enough and have not been intimidated by the long list of laws and barriers are lobbying to have morphine more readily available to hospitals and doctors. Ultimately doctors and health officials will have to work together to come up with a solution that will benefit those who are suffering from the growing incidence of cancer and AIDS.

National Cancer Institute - Cancer Literature

http://www.cancer.gov/cancerinfo/literature

An informative website with several different links that give more information about cancer, treatments available, and general fact sheets.

Grade Level: High school, general population

Effect of Short Time Morphine Addiction on the Kidney Tissue in Rat

http://www.doaj.org/doaj?func=openurl&genre=article&issn=15533468&date=2005&volume=1&issue=4&spage=186

A scientific, original study conducted to research the effects of morphine on the kidney tissue of rats.

Grade Level: Undergraduate

Geological Survey of India

http://www.gsi.gov.in/

The website contains general information about India including current events and news.

Grade Level: Middle School

For many years, rats have been notorious for their reputations as everything from annoying house pests to the carriers of deadly diseases, including the bubonic plague. But recently rats have earned a new respect in the eyes of the scientist. They may even replace the mouse as a favorite research model as the rat genome is being mapped and nearing completion. The reason for this is that rats are very much like us in many respects. They are able to express different emotions, differentiate good sex from bad, anticipate when they are likely to be successful on a test, and even have dreams as detected by brain activity during sleep. Rats can even get addicted to alcohol, drugs, and the like sometimes end up killing themselves because of their addiction (much like us humans). Ironically, it seems that science may find a life savior in an animal that is known for bringing death.

The Rat Threat in Alaska:

http://www.pbs.org/harriman/1899/rats.html

An informational PBS website about the threat of rats to the Alaskan wildlife. Along with outlining the threat, the website also gives a brief history of the rats and how they got to Alaska.

Grade Level: Middle School, High School

Expression of Exogenous Rat Collagenase in Vitro and in a Rat Model of Liver Fibrosis:

http://www.doaj.org/doaj?func=openurl&genre=article&issn=10079327&date=2002&volume=8&issue=5&spage=901

This scientific study attempts to test a certain hypothesis in vitro and in vivo and understand whether the hypothesis is correct and why.

Grade Level: Graduate

HotZone: A Webquest:

http://www.geocities.com/mitchsea/webquest.html

This website is designed to serve as an introduction to several different viruses and bacteria (including the bubonic plague). Students may choose which ones they want to learn about or they can learn about them all!

Grade Level: Elementary school, Middle school

Recent studies show that chronic fatigue syndrome is more than a mythical ailment, a misdiagnosis, or just a convenient excuse. The medical community still considers the term to be too broad, describing a range of symptoms and possible causes, but acknowledges that the syndrome is as real and as taxing on those who have it as any other disease is. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) has identified genetic mutations and specific genes that correlate to and may cause chronic fatigue syndrome, and launched a $6 million public awareness campaign. Studies show that, while the number of people affected by chronic fatigue is still unknown, the illness is more common than previously believed. People with chronic fatigue suffer from constant exhaustion, regardless of sleep, and several of the following symptoms: impaired memory and concentration, sore throat, tender lymph nodes, muscle and joint pain, headaches, disturbed sleeping patterns and post-exercise malaise. Several other diseases – lyme disease, Ross
River virus, parvovirus, mononucleosis and an array of psychological disorders exhibit many similar symptoms. Researchers believe that chronic fatigue may be caused by genes, toxins, physical and emotional trauma or microbial exposure. Comprehensive understanding of this condition is still in its infancy and further study is needed to determine causes and treatment.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Description: This is the official Center for Disease Control site about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Grade Level: Middle School and Up.

Reliability of Physiological, Psychological and Cognitive Variables in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and the Role of Graded Exercise
Description: A study that tests the symptoms of chronic fatigue system before and after exercise.

Grade Level: Higher Education

Chronic fatigue syndrome: evaluation and treatment

Description: This gives an explanation of current evaluation and treatment methods for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Grade Level: High School and Up

A new book about creationism has caused a stir in the scientific community, as the author is of Middle East origin, and his work strays from the standard argument of creationism that states that the Earth only originated a few thousand years ago. The article in the New York Times describes the book as akin to a textbook with glossy pages filled with striking illustrations. The author, Harun Yahya, devotes most of these pages to making the argument that the species that we see around the world today are the same as the species in the past, hence, no evolution has taken place. Moreover, he has proceeded to ship copies of his book to many science faculty around the world. Professors who have received the book in the United States say that it will probably not have much of an effect in this country, as we are used to claims like this being made on a regular basis. However, in the Middle East, many people have already been moved to doubt evolution, as Mr. Yahya is treated as more of an authority figure in that part of the world. Experts predict that Mr. Yahya’s other goal might be to purvey his Islamic message to the Muslim population in the United States. It might be another type of retaliation towards the more progressive culture of the West encroaching upon the traditions of the Middle East.

Institute for Creation Research - ICR

http://www.icr.org/

This website contains information about creationism, articles relating world events to the Bible, and a search function to learn more about the topics.

Grade Level: High school and up

Biological Evolution Through Mutation, Selection, and Drift

http://arxiv.org/abs/cond-mat/9907372

This scientific article relates some of the processes through which evolution takes place. It clarifies terms and connects biology and physics to make evolution clearer.

Grade Level: Graduate

Evolution-Academic Info

http://www.academicinfo.net/evolution.html

This website houses numerous resources on the topic of evolution, from interesting articles to TV clips. It is ideal for anyone wanting to learn more about the topic.

Grade Level: Middle School and up