Can microevolution in dogs be proven without speculation ?

In summary, the person is debating a fellow on a different website, and they are worried that their answer might not be as technical or correct. They ask for help from more learned minds, and they provide a summary of the content. They debate the possibility of microevolution in dogs, and the person offers a scientific explanation. Many creationists accept some degree of microevolution, and the person's friend is heading toward the "all mutations are bad" argument.
  • #1
heliocentricprose
29
0
Can microevolution in dogs be proven without "speculation"?

I am debating a fellow on a different website, and I'm worried my answer will not be as technical or correct. So, I'm asking for some help from the more learned minds that roam this place. : )

"""Me: Mutations occurred in the domestication of dogs.

Him: Can you present a reference?

With all due repect...everything you have posted has been nothing but speculation.

Why do you present speculation as fact?"""


This is my question to you: Can microevolution in dogs be proven without "speculation"?

""Me: We see mutations occur from generation to generation (microevolution).

Him: Where?

Either post a reference or retract that statement.""


Now, I know my statement is true. Microevolution occurs from generation to generation. I just don't know how to construct definitive and powerful response.

I would greatly appreciate your help, anyone's help. Thanks.
 
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  • #3
  • #4
Thanks! How do you find these papers? I searched for a half-hour not being able to find anything.
 
  • #5
Pubmed is a search engine for citations and abstracts primarly in biomedical research journals.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed

You could also google scholar
http://scholar.google.com/

http://www.ifm.liu.se/biology/kurser/nbib20/Vila99_dogs.pdf
http://www.journals.royalsoc.ac.uk/(onvrdp45jb21wm55loo1cj55)/app/home/contribution.asp?referrer=parent&backto=issue,13,15;journal,97,309;linkingpublicationresults,1:102024,1
 
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  • #6
heliocentricprose, do you know how to use google? All I did was type in "dog evolution" and got this page http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=dog+evolution

If you want to get more specific, just add the specific word or words you're looking for. Hopefully you will find what you're looking for in all of the links provided in google.

Here's a scientific explanation. http://www.idir.net/~wolf2dog/wayne2.htm

Here's the phylogenic tree
http://www.nhm.org/exhibitions/dogs/images/phylogeny-lrg.jpg

Here's the evolution of dogs simplified. http://www.nhm.org/exhibitions/dogs/evolution/index.html
 
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  • #7
heliocentricprose said:
Can microevolution in dogs be proven without "speculation"?

Egad, aren't 100s of years (if not millenia) of dog breeding sufficient proof of microevolutionary change?!?
 
  • #8
Yes Phobos, I thought so. Some people need more, I guess.

@Evo :D yes I know how to use Google, but if I don't know what information is the best, how can I find what I need. Thanks for your input.

And iansmith, that's exactly what I was looking for, thanks.
 
  • #9
heliocentricprose said:
Yes Phobos, I thought so. Some people need more, I guess.
Many creationists accept some degree of microevolution anyway. Sounds like your friend was more likely heading toward the "all mutations are bad" argument.
 

1. Can microevolution in dogs be observed in real time?

Yes, microevolution in dogs can be observed in real time through selective breeding. By breeding dogs with specific traits, such as size or coat color, over multiple generations, we can see how these traits change and adapt over time.

2. How do we know that the changes in dogs are due to microevolution and not just genetic variation?

We can determine that the changes in dogs are due to microevolution by analyzing the genetic makeup of the dogs. Microevolution involves changes in the frequency of certain genes in a population, whereas genetic variation refers to the presence of different versions of a gene in a population. By studying the genetic changes in dogs over time, we can determine if they are due to microevolution.

3. Is there any evidence of microevolution in wild dogs?

Yes, there is evidence of microevolution in wild dogs. For example, studies have shown that wolves, the ancestors of domesticated dogs, have undergone microevolution to adapt to different environments and prey. This can be seen in their physical and behavioral characteristics.

4. Can microevolution in dogs be reproduced in a controlled experiment?

Yes, microevolution in dogs can be reproduced in a controlled experiment through artificial selection. By controlling the breeding of dogs and selecting for specific traits, we can observe how these traits change over time. This has been done in numerous studies on domesticated dogs.

5. How does microevolution in dogs support the theory of evolution?

Microevolution in dogs provides evidence for the theory of evolution by natural selection. It demonstrates how small changes in a population over time can lead to the adaptation and diversification of a species. This process of microevolution is a key aspect of the larger theory of evolution, which explains how all species on Earth have evolved and diversified over billions of years.

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