Evolution: Is it Real? Answers from Biologists

[Thallium]

Strange how some get so *****y...

 

[Phobos]

I say you have no proof.

What do you make of the changes in the fossil record through time?

How about the genetic markers that corroborate the geographic and temporal evolutionary history displayed by the fossil record?

How about the directly observed instances of speciation?

How about the observed instances of genetic mutatations that resulted in non-detrimental effects?

 

[Phobos]

You have never seen a transitional specie

We have many fossil examples of transitional forms.

and natural selection involves reduction of diversity from the parent--not evolution.

That too is PART of evolution. Some mechanisms increase diversity (e.g., recombination, mutation, gene flow) whereas other mechanisms decrease diversity.

Can you prove life on Earth wasn't put here by the mother ship?

You ask to "prove the negative". Regardless, we can prove that life has the capacity to change and we can provide evidence that it has changed in the past. On the other hand, there is no scientific evidence to indicate that life was placed here by an alien spaceship.

 

[Janitor]

I heard part of Alistair Begg's message on the 'Truth for Life' program on Christian radio this morning. His theme was that male and female roles have gotten all mixed up in the last 150 years. He blames the teaching of evolution, which to him is a pack of lies. His one-sentence summary of evolution was [and I am quoting him exactly]: "DNA met DNA in a pile of sludge."

CAN SOMEBODY--I SAY--CAN SOMEBODY SHOUT OUT "STRAW MAN ARGUMENT" FOR ME?

 

[aychamo]

You think that's bad? A pentecostal told me that evolution says "two rocks collided, amoebas came out and that's where humans came from"

 

[Adam]

I invented evolution!

 

[Phobos]

"DNA met DNA in a pile of sludge."
"two rocks collided, amoebas came out and that's where humans came from"

Excellent examples why a strong science program is important for public schools.

 

[aychamo]

Excellent examples why a strong science program is important for public schools.

Agreed. It kills me when uneducated yokels spout off at how scientists are always wrong, lie, etc. Meanwhile, they can't explain a single phenomenom except by crediting their appropriate paranormal entity.