Have the atheists been keeping up on the epigenetics vs natural selection debate? Thoughts?

Have the atheists been keeping up on the epigenetics vs natural selection debate? Thoughts?

--- Since scientific inquiry is not conducted through debate, no...I haven't paid attention at all.

Although, I think the Middle Ages called. They want their Scholasticism back. Trying to sell scientific inquiry through debate will be pointless to anyone born after the 16th century.

There is no "debate" at all. Epigenetics is simply one more method of gene regulation. We already know of hundreds of such methods. Epigenetics is different only in that the effects can be passed through generations. There is nothing to debate, and it has nothing whatsoever to do with natural selection, other than adding another layer of regulation.

What debate? Epigenetics is just gene regulation. It can be a little weird, and it tends to be very subtle (which is why it went undiscovered for so long), but it doesn't involve actual permanent changes to our genes, and certainly isn't any sort of directed, intentional evolution. They're separate concepts that don't conflict with one another in the slightest, so it's kind of pointless to pit them against one another in a debate.

Why would they? You make the same uneducated, poorly informed mistake numerous theists make. It is this: atheism = science. That equation doesn't balance, it's wrong. I know a lot of atheists but only a small number of them are scientists. One is a musician and another a sports man and neither of them know anything about science. Atheists come from all walks of life, not just science. Indeed not all scientists are atheists. I've had two managers in my time who were both fundamental Christians.

I really don't see how the two are at odds.

One concerns which portions of DNA will or won't be "read", while the other is concerned with environmental factors influencing the likelihood of reproductive success.

To me it's like saying there's a debate between using diesel or electric windows.

I wasn't aware that it was a debate, or that it had anything to do with atheism.

Nope, we aren't all philosphers or biologists.

New to me;this is creationist-speak, eh

The what now?

Not everyone does, but I find it fascinating.