Re: What's the big deal about evolution, anyway

>OK, so it has some use in medicine. But that's it? This grand theory you
>all love to rhapsodize about... and it only has applications in medicine?

>Just doesn't seem like that powerful a theory.

Relativity forms the basis for modern physics.

Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar's stellar evolution is the foundation of
astrophysics and astronomy.

The inflationary lambda cold dark matter big bang is the foundation of
cosmology. (It obviously needs a bit more work).

The periodic table of the elements is the foundation of chemistry, and
of nuclear physics. The periodic table wonderfully ties these sciences
together.

Plate tectonics is the foundation (literally) of geology.

The hydrologic cycle is the foundation of meteorology.

Evolution is the foundation of biology.

Imagine studying chemistry without the periodic table of the elements.
Kind of pointless, wouldn't you say? Imagine trying to understand the
Hertzsprung-Russell diagram without knowing anything about stellar
nucleosynthesis. Imagine trying to understand weather patterns and
erosion without knowing anything about the hydrologic cycle.

Imagine trying to build a gasoline powered automobile without knowing
anything about the internal combustion engine. That is what studying
biology without the understanding evolution provides is like. The
theory of evolution still needs more work. At present it does not
incorporate abiogenesis. It would be nice if it did. Aside from that,
it is a very powerful theory, and neatly explains the classification of
the world's biota and the paleologic fossil record. Evolution explains
why all vertebrates are tetrapods. It explains why the cenozoic is the
age of the anthophyta. It explains the legged cetaceans.

Evolution explains the origin of the species, and, from our
perspective, the origin of us. It explains genetic clocks, and why we
are more closely related to old world monkeys than to new world
monkeys. We have a far better understanding of how we came to be, and
our place in the world, thanks to this theory. It may not help us
build a better radio antennae. Or it might. In fact, genetic
algorithms have been used to do this very thing. Evolutions HAS been
used to design superior rocket engines. It may eventually be used to
help us evolve novel medicines.

Hey, I want a POTM nomination for this. :)

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: If Atheists Funded Their Religion Evolution
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    (talk.origins)
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    (talk.origins)
  • Re: If Atheists Funded Their Religion Evolution
    ... forced to pack their bags and shuttle the crippled stepchild Evolution ... Can you imagine the wars that would be fought if thepeople that voted ... Since these dangerous procedures are postponed, the death rate goes ... That's deep magic - not a fit subject for science. ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: If Atheists Funded Their Religion Evolution
    ... forced to pack their bags and shuttle the crippled stepchild Evolution ... Can you imagine the wars that would be fought if thepeople that voted ... Genetics is useful, but not really the same as evolutionary theory. ... That's deep magic - not a fit subject for science. ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Evolution and medicine
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