Bringing science to the public in the light of evolution

Abstract

Evolution stands as a foundational pillar within modern biology, shaping our understanding of life. Studies related to evolution, for example constructing phylogenetic trees, are often carried out using DNA or protein sequences. These data, readily accessible from public databases, represent a treasure trove of resources that can be harnessed to create engaging activities with the public. At the heart of our project lies a collection of "stories" about evolution, each rooted in genuine scientific publications that furnish both biological context and supporting evidence. These narratives serve as the focal point of our LightOfEvolution.org website. Each story is accompanied by a dedicated "Your Turn to Play" section. Within this section, we furnish user-friendly activities and step-by-step guidelines, equipping visitors with the means to replicate analyses showcased in the highlighted publications. For example, the website OhMyGenes.org, relying on authentic scientific data, provides the capability to compute the proportion of shared genes across different species. Here, visitors can address the captivating question: "How many genes do we share with a banana?" To extend the educational reach, we have developed a series of modular activities, also related to the stories. These activities have been thoughtfully designed to be adaptable for face-to-face workshops held in classrooms or presented during public events. We aim to create stories and activities that resonate with participants, offering a tangible and enjoyable experience. By providing opportunities that reflect real-world scientific practices, we seek to offer participants valuable insights into the current workings of scientists "in the light of evolution."

Keywords: bioinformatics; evolution; science communication.

Figure 1.

Screenshot of the “In the Light of Evolution” home page at https://lightofevolution.org/en/ (26 September 2023, date last accessed). Each leaf on the “Tree of Life” is a story, with the Introductory materials at the trunk, serving as a foundation. The main features of the website are accessible from the home page: the Introductory materials, Stories, Your turn to play (Activities), and the Glossary.

Figure 2.

Partial multiple sequence alignment of insulin from different species (UniProt accessions P01308 (human), P30410 (chimpanzee), P67970 (chicken), P01317 (cow). In order to respond to the question “Which sequence belongs to which species?”, workshop participants must deduce which protein sequences are the most similar, and relate it to which species are morphologically the most similar. The human and chimpanzee sequences (2 and 3) are the most similar, with one difference. The chicken sequence (4) contains the most differences from the other sequences. By process of elimination, sequence (1) belongs to the cow.

Figure 3.

Partial multiple alignment of fructose-1,6-biphosphatase from different species (UniProt accessions: human O00757, mouse P70695, Drosophila A0A0U1RVK6, banana Q9XF47, and bacteria (in this case Escherichia coli) P0A993).