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Published byRalph Whitehead Modified over 8 years ago
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Faith-Based Attacks Common Misconceptions
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All organisms created by God during 6 days of creation Genesis 1:1-2:4 “ Ideal types ” as progenitors of all extant organisms Adam & Eve Species are immutable since their creation; intraspecific variation is limited “ Creation event ” is recent 1. Species were created independently of each other 2. Species do not change through time 3. Species were created recently
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Species were created independently (of each other)
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1-2% Divergence =
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Homologous structures arise from homologous groups of embryonic cells, through homologous developmental pathways….
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Species do not change through time (immutability of forms)
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Stratigraphic record A. Observations from fossil record: fossils exist, and most differ from extant species; 3 specific observations support the idea that species change over time: 1. Extinction: 1801, Cuvier published first list of extinct species; 1812, he proved Irish Elk to be an extinct species
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2. Law of Succession of Types: fossil species excavated from a given area are succeeded by similar extant species in overlapping regions
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3. Transitional Forms: Darwin predicted that intermediate forms should be represented in the fossil record
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developmental: phylotypic stages, hourglass model Antibiotic resistance 2. direct observation: Artificial selection B. Observations from extant species 1. vestigial structures: functionless or rudimentary homolog with important function in related species structural: tailbones, eyes genetic: pseudogenes STOP
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Species were created recently
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Is the Earth more than 6,000 years old? Catastrophism vs. Uniformitarianism Relative dating of rock formations principle of superposition principle of original horizontality principle of cross-cutting relationships principle of inclusions principle of faunal succession
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1.8
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Relative Dating vs. Radiometric Dating Unstable isotope decay as natural clock Carbon, potassium-argon, uranium-lead Half-lives elapsed Number of atoms
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How old is life on Earth? Inference: the Earth was lifeless for ~900 million years after it formed, and that Evolution has been occurring for ~3.7 billion years Oldest traces of chemical evidence of life are carbon granules with a distinct ratio of 13 C to 12 C, dated to >3.7 bya Oldest fossil organisms found yet are bacterial cell impressions dated to 3.5 billion years old
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Literalist: As discussed Progressive: Universe is old, but life was created supernaturally in essentially its present form within the last 10,000 years (or some believe that each “ day ” of Genesis was indeterminably long) Theistic: Universe is old, “ days ” of Genesis were indeterminably long, evolution occurred, but with minimal or no randomness (evolutionary process ‘ guided ’ by God) Intelligent Design: Supernatural intelligence designed complex biological structures (DNA, bacterial flagella, etc.), but descent with modification possible “ Flavors ” of Creationist Belief
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“ Evolution is the taproot which is feeding the oppressive, murderous, and infidel directions we see gaining acceptance around us ”
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Common Misconceptions About Evolution Humans from Monkeys? Humans not derived from monkeys or apes Common ancestry of extant lineages Order from Disorder? 2nd Law of Thermodynamics: entropy increases in closed systems Complex Designs Require a Designer Structures ‘ designed ’ to increase survival in complex world Mutation (random) and selection (non-random) Many famous scientists reject evolution Overwhelming worldwide scientific consensus Anti-evolutionists often misquote, or quote out of context, evolutionary scientists
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Define your terms!
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Just A Theory! Fact: an observation that has been repeatedly confirmed Law: a descriptive generalization about how some aspect of the natural world behaves under stated circumstances Hypothesis: a testable statement about the natural world, based on factual observation, that can be used to build more complex inferences and explanations Theory: a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world that can incorporate facts, laws, inferences, and tested hypotheses Just A Theory?
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Environment does not induce adaptation! Rather, individuals with advantageous phenotypes survive and reproduce…
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Natural selection: “ Survival of the Fittest ” or “ Elimination of the Inferior ” ?
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Selection: Acts on individual phenotypes to produce a distinct change in trait distributions within a generation Evolution: A population-level change in allele frequencies between generations, as a consequence of selection Evolution is a generation behind environmental change!
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Natural Selection is nonrandom: evolution by selection increases adaptation to the environment Evolution is NOT progressive: although there is a trend toward an increase in complexity and specialization, there is no progression toward a predetermined goal. ABCDE Neither “ higher ” nor “ advanced ” Neither “ lower ” nor “ primitive ” Natural Selection does not result in “ perfection ”
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