From: bivalve (bivalve@mail.davidson.alumlink.com)
Date: Tue Dec 03 2002 - 12:09:33 EST
>A very simple & broad statement of evolutionary theory is not hard to give:
>Biological species change over long periods of time, with some
becoming extenct and some new species arising from old. Various
species are thus related to one another. Such ideas are, of course,
not uniquely Darwinian.<
More generally, it can also refer to changes within species as well.
Thus, an even simpler definition would be a change in gene frequency
over time. Both change within species and the transformation of one
species to another have been observed repeatedly (see the latest
Science for an example of the latter in yeast), so the claim that
evolution happens is an observed fact. If offspring were always
clones, or if they never showed any net trend, then evolution would
be disproven.
Note that this does not show that everything evolved from a common
ancestor. The latter is a claim about the extent of evolution and
requires other evidence.
> The question of _how_ evolution takes place is of course more
>difficult. But we would avoid a lot of wasted time & posturing if
>we would agree that it _has_ taken place.<
Of course, the extent is also a question, and this is really what is
being questioned when people claim not to believe in evolution.
Recognizing this would help avoid the fallacy of evolution equals
evil atheism.
Dr. David Campbell
Old Seashells
University of Alabama
Biodiversity & Systematics
Dept. Biological Sciences
Box 870345
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 USA
bivalve@mail.davidson.alumlink.com
That is Uncle Joe, taken in the masonic regalia of a Grand Exalted
Periwinkle of the Mystic Order of Whelks-P.G. Wodehouse, Romance at
Droitgate Spa
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