RE: Test your knowledge of evolutionary theory

Arthur V. Chadwick (chadwicka@swau.edu)
Sun, 13 Dec 1998 15:51:36 -0800

At 12:48 PM 12/13/98 -0800, Pim wrote:
>
>Art: Now this sounds like an evolution I could believe in! If evolution
"does not move toward a more perfect state nor even toward greater
complexity", then it must either do nothing, or move toward a less perfect
state and toward lesser complexity. I could buy into that.
>
>The issue is that evolution does not require to move towards greater
complexity, nor a more "perfect state". I am glad that you accept
evolution. Perhaps rather than making up strawmen arguments about
>what evolution isn't, should one not focus on what it is ? Of course that
would mean having to deal with a topic somewhat uncomfortable to some.

I agree, there are many, both evolutionists and creationists who are
uncomfortable with modern evolutionary theory. I am not uncomfortable at
all with the above, and I am eagerly anticipating the examples (I would
think that biologists will not be satisfied with only one any longer) that
will replace the peppered moth in the textbooks. I certainly hope they are
prospected with more care than this one was. I am of course familiar with
lots of other examples such as the observed changes in the Galapagos
Finches, but do we really know any more about those putative changes than
we do about the Peppered Moth? You are probably aware that the changes
observed in England were also observed in Pennsylvania about the same time
even though there was no industrial or other pollution in that locality
that could have been used to explain the changes. A similar phenomenon may
apply to the Galapagos example. Until we have some assurance that we do
indeed understand the effect, it is probably not a good idea to substitute
another example, lest our faces be reddened again. Perhaps this would be a
good time to set up some kind of commission to thoroughly research an
example to replace the moth that will not require the ponderous
"self"-corrective apparatus to be hauled out again in the near term.
Art
http://biology.swau.edu