What is the evidence for evolution?

Here is a link to a site that lists 29+ evidences of macro-evolution- rather than the more easily dismissed evidence of 'micro-evolution'.

My favorites are the 'atavisms'- physical structures that had a use but no longer do, like the hind limb skeletons in whales or pelvis fragments in some snakes.

Suboptimal structures are interesting as well- physical structures that really don't work well like overcrowded human jaws, panda thumbs, flightless birds, and so forth.

A lot of the stuff on the site takes a decent understanding of biology- the site is not written 'down' very much.

Easy. There are fossilised records showing the progression, not just of homonids, but every other piece of life on the planet, including plants. Evolution is simply a species existing then experiencing change over a gradual process as mutations occur within the gene pool. These mutations, or flukes, sometimes have characteristics that make survival easier, such as stronger nails, thicker hair etc, which means that particular animal will be stronger than the rest. This leads to the phrase 'survival of the fittest'.

Evolution is something that is still occuring today, it'll never stop. Everytime someone is born they are slightly different (genetically) from their parents.

Remember 300 years ago mankind was a lot smaller, and we've experienced an evolution of our height, as the taller animals (humans) mate (as they could be considered better/stronger gene carriers by mates).

Where evolution has actual physical proof, God merely has faith, no proof.

This doesn't mean that science and theology can't co-exist! Most scientists are quite spiritual and believe in some kind of God. What caused the big bang? What was here before the big bang, and before that? How can something have simply always existed? God and evolution go hand in hand.

I think the guy above my post is a bit confused. We aren't made up of space. Sure there are gaps in between molecules and atoms, but it's on a different scale. I think he may be thinking of the fact we are about 65% water (some people claim 90% - I asked my Biology lecturer about this and he stated it was a common misconception)

I, too, do not intend to offend, but the proof is in the science. To a Creationist, science is a dirty word, but science is based on fact and proof. If you want answers, there are entire books written on evolution and the history of the Earth. Unfortunately, there are no easy answers with science, as there is with the Bible. If you want proof, take the time and do the research. The Bible was written in a time before science, the church once argueed that the Earth was flat and the Sun orbited the Earth. It would be nice if the church would follow science into the 21st century.

The Queensland lung fish is believed to be a link between marine life forms and land based life. Evolutionists believe that life originated in the sea and through a process of random mutation and natural selection became more complex and specialized. DNA evidence and fossil remains support this theory. The lung fish has both lungs and gills and modified fins which have the skeletal structure of a hand and almost identical DNA as the hands of land dwellers. Further evidence for evolution are obligate troglodytes which are permanent cave dwelling creatures that differ from theirr outside relatives in having reverse evolution of their eyes or no eyes at all. If they were created by god you would expect their eyes to be no different to the eyes of thei surface dwelling relatives.

The fact that everything is made of the same material could be a sign. In fact, human beings are actually 80-90% pure space. This is because we are made of energy( moving atoms and molecules), and these constantly moving molecules that we call mass, is really just a microcosm constructed in the same way as galaxies in the macrocosm. Thats getting a bit off the topic though. How about the fact that our DNA changes as we grow up as a result of environmental influence and mental constructions.

Evolution is all around us, there is lots of proof, however there is none to say that god made man

Black Out Lovley,

Athiests are usualy a lot smarter than most Religious people, and the Bible cannot be used as evidence since it has been changed over the years so many times.

Loads, and loads of it. In fact man evolved to be the most intelligent creature on earth. A pity thowever, that early man had to go and invent a God, because all that has caused is a great deal of unpleasantness. And a great many gullible people.

"no there isn't any..everything they come up with if you just think about it for a while..i mean it makes no since..like humans used to be apes? are you kidding? let me know how that works..it doesn't" guess what? you're right! that's why evolution states that humans and apes evolved from A COMMON ANCESTOR who is now extinct. that's why we now have humans and apes,because they evolved from this one thing a long time ago in the past.

There is a timeline of what came first and what came after. At some point whales were in the water and then they came to land then they went back to the water and that is why they breathe air. Same with dolphins.

Yes, scientists have found bones of prehistoric human-resembling creatures. They are different than bones today. Also, I don't know if this matters, but lots of animals evolve to adapt to new environments, ie changes to the lungs or other parts.