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Which part of the Theory of Evolution do you not believe?

Below is what evolution is. If you have a problem with evolution, you have a problem with one (or more) of these 12 points. Which one is it? Provide evidence that the point is incorrect.

*NOTE* "God Did It" is *NOT* evidence, and is not a valid answer. "Prove it" is not a valid answer - each of these have been proven scientifically, and are heavily documented.

Variation:

1) Variation exists in all populations

2) Some of that variation is heritable

3) Base pair sequences are encoded in a set of self replicating molecules that form templates for making protiens

4) Combinations of Genesthat did not previously exist may arise via "crossing over" during meiosis, which alters the sequence of base pairs on a chromosome

5) Copying errors (mutations) can also arise because the self-replication process is of imperfect 9though high) fidelity; these mutations also increase the range of combinations of alleles in a gene pool

Selection:

6) Some of that heritable variation has an influence on the number of offspring able to reproduce in turn, including traits that affect mating opportunites, or survival prospects for either individuals or close relatives

7) Characteristics which tend to increase the number of an organism's ofspring that are able to reproduce in turn, tend to become more common over generations and diffuse through a poulation; those that tend to decrease such prospects tend to become rarer.

8) "Sampling errors" can occur in populations taht alter the relative frequency of the various alleles for reasons other than survival/reproduction advantages

9) Migration of individuals from one population to another can lead to changes in the relative frequencies of alleles in the "recipient" population

Speciation:

10) Populations of a single species that live in different environments are exposed to different conditions that can "favor" differnet traits. These environmental differences can cause two populations to accumulate divergent suites of characteristics.

11) a new species develops (often initiated by temporary environmental factors such as a period of geographic isolation) when a sub-population acquires characteristics which promote or guarantee reproductive isolation from the alternate population, limiting the diffusion of variations thereafter.

Sufficiency:

12) the combination of these effects tends to increase diversity of life forms; over the time frame from the late Hadean to the present, this becomes sufficient to explain the diversity of life observed on Earth, both in what is directly seen at present, and indirectly through geologic evidence from the fossil record.

That's what evolution IS. If you have a problem with evolution, you have a problem with one (or more) of these 12 points. Which one is it? Provide evidence that the point is incorrect. *NOTE* "God Did It" is *NOT* evidence.

Whille the Origins of Life are a question of interest, the core of evolutionary theory itself does not rest on a foundation that requires any knowledge about the origins of life itself.

Evolution does NOT indicate that all variations are explained this way; that there are no other mechanisms by which variation may arise, be passed, or become prevalent; or that there is no other way life diversifies. Any and all of these may be valid points of conjecture - But without EVIDENCE, they are not SCIENCE.

Update:

*Adding*

1 - Pick a number, and state what you disagree with, and give evidence. Don't give vague replies to things that are not listed. If you don't believe in Evolution, then I'm telling you how to state it in a way people will listen. Dispute the Science, don't argue your feelings.

2 - I am not "dodging" the origin of life. It is a completely separate issue from evolution, as I already stated.

15 Answers

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  • ?
    Lv 5
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    Haven't read them bt i totally agree with you... science is facts and Evidence, religion is a popular story.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    The problem with speciation is that in every case the species will revert to its original state when taken out of the temporary environmental change, and that they can reproduce with other animals within the same species; the best example is the different 'races' of humans which aren't races at all but the same species.

    Another great example is dogs; the many breeds and varieties are all dogs. How many generations will it take for a descendent of the Chihuahua to no longer be a dog but something else? Please provide an example of an evolved monkey-dog, or the like which can produce offspring. The platypus would be an excellent example except that it is exactly the same as its ancient fossil.

    Micro-evolution is pretty much easy to understand, but all living creatures morphing from a primordic omni-frog is a tough sell for any logical thinker.

  • ?
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago

    .

    The BIG question is " What is Evolution" ? ? ?

    The answer, I believe is where one species becomes (evolves) into a completely NEW species.

    Variation (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, above) is not evolution - the wild wolf was selectively bred into over 400 varieties of dogs as diverse as the chihuahua, and the Irish Wolf Hound, and they are all recognisable as canines.

    Selection (6, 7, 8, 9, above) refer variation .

    Speciation (10, 11, above) This happens, and is what sent Darwin off on his wild goose chase .

    12, Sufficiency: Your reference to the "Geologic Column" amuses me - WHY, because the only place the geologic column occurs is in the text-books that are used by education systems to brainwash today's children into believing the religion of evolution.

    (Added)

    1, The entire assumption that you started with is incorrect as evolution NEVER happened, and was born out of people's desire to find an alternative to the truth that God stated in His Holy Bible. And yes, I do dispute the false science that the religion of evolution is based on.

    2, Without the "origin of life" (mud to man) there is NO evolution as this also never happened . . .

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    the part that claims that theists and atheists share a common ancestor.

    its hard to believe that a group of people with such a distinct mental incapacity and obvious delusions like theists suffer from can have a brain that evolved from anything besides a lump of coal.

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  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    You should have pointed out that the Theory of Evolution has never claimed to explain the origin of the first cell.

  • 1 decade ago

    I normally don't use all caps, but FOR THE LOVE OF GOD WILL PEOPLE STOP EQUATING EVOLUTION WITH THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRST LIFE ON EARTH?

    Evolution is NOT an explanation or the origin of life!! NOT RELATED

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    I didn't see anything you wrote as being unbelievable.

    I certainly think the theories about how life started are much more theoretical than later evolutionary theory is, but I think most evolutionary scientists freely admit that.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    For evolution to be true, it would have to be an on-going process or even capable of being manipulated in a laboratory setting. Higher intelligence (humans) cannot evlove from lower intelligence (primates)....no matter what type of adaptation is presented. Those theories are pure fabrication. Humans come from other humans.

  • EAH
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago

    IF will share a common ancestor with the apes,

    why are there still religious people around.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Sure - with minor quibbles about mass extinctions and the like. But the origin of life is a key question, and you just dodged it. What would you say about any adversaries in a debate that did this to you?

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