Re: teaching evolution in Florida

On Feb 4, 6:11 am, Ron O <rokim...@xxxxxxx> wrote:
The concept of
evolution had been kicking around, probably for millenia. Interested
parties were searching for some explanation for what they observed in
the biosphere. They came up with a notion that species could change
over time. A couple of guys came along with an idea of how that could
be facilitated (natural selection). It became easier for everyone to
account for the morphological and species distribution that they were
observing. There were problems such as some of the species
geographical distributions didn't make sense ( such as marsupials in
South America and Australia) and no one knew of how traits were passed
down from one generation to another or where new genetic variation
came from. Continental drift emerged and lifeforms actually helped
confirm that theory. South America, Australia and Antarctica were
once joined at a time when marsupials had already evolved. Fossil
marsupials were found in Antarctica and both theories were
corroborated. Medenlian genetics was rediscovered and eventually the
new synthesis verified the utility of natural selection. We found out
what mutations were and how they occurred. We now know that we can't
keep them from happening, but some are selected against and some are
selected for or are neutral. Discovery of DNA as the genetic material
and methods to get the DNA sequence have allowed us to verify the
genetic relationships of existing lifeforms and also some extinct
fossil forms. Paleontology has continued to find evidence of past
lifeforms. Geophysicists have determined the age of the Earth and
aided Paleontology to date the fossils that they find. It all works
together to create a greater whole.

I wish there more more pieces of literature and other media (like
video) that explained the above in that way - simple and to the
point. Creationists have little patience for learning anything that
actually takes time to learn or they wouldn't be creationists. But
simple explanations that start with the data confusing the scientists
that find it, and follow that with the discoveries and theories that
explain the confusion can be quite powerful. Most of the really good
documentaries I've seen on evolution explain it in a 2-hour (or
longer) format with a great deal of fascinating, but relatively
unimportant stuff (from the point of view of a creationist). We need
a 5-10 minute version of the whole story. Maybe there is one and I
just don't know about it. It doesn't matter if it leaves big pieces
out or is a little less than perfectly accurate if it makes valid
points in an easy-to-understand way.

Lee Jay

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Dawkins gives incorrect answer
    ... or that wider field of possibilities which natural selection tailored ... human DNA has basically remained the same as it was ten thousand years ... Stone Age Genetics: ... Europeans or contributed to the present-day human gene pool," ...
    (sci.bio.evolution)
  • Re: New Article at TalkReason: Creationists, Hitler and Evolution
    ... it was actually the Darwinists who first ... How could Darwin have rejected genetics when he did not know about ... Lysenko rejected natural selection as important; ... natural selection in various contexts including evolution. ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: Biochemistry of Genetic Mechanisms
    ... > Macroevolution, as well as microevolution is well covered in Jeffrey ... > Levinton's Genetics, ... Do you believe that natural selection is the only mechanism of evolution? ...
    (sci.bio.evolution)
  • Re: Question for evolutionists - Most ducked/dodged thing by creationists?
    ... Friar Broccoli wrote: ... This is what Natural Selection does. ... Each generation passes its genetics to the next in a slightly different ... genetic decay) is currently falling into chaos from which new species ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: Behe book review: Pa. scientist again attacks evolution
    ... Glenn wrote in ... huh", without explanation. ... inference based at best on an inference, not on a mechanism, and not a ... reasonably be viewed as mechanisms that make natural selection work. ...
    (talk.origins)