Get the theologians and physicists together and discuss the origin of the universe. To me, there can be a no more fascinating topic. But to discuss evolution, you must gather the biologists. First, though, consult a wordsmith who would tell you that evolution simply means change over time. Biologists observe things changing over time. Viruses, for instance, mutate genetically all the time, therefore we need new vaccines for the flu every year. In biology, a science, evolution means the change of organisms over time. It is an observation, a fact. A theory, on the other hand, is a model in the human mind of how something works, based on the observations and reasoning of said human mind and many others. How evolution works is one of the main topics of study among biologists. The basic theory of how evolution works is called natural selection. We can see that an organism with a certain trait, like faster running, is able to survive and produce more faster runners. We do that with dogs in our artificial selection of greyhounds, after all.
Is this particularly debatable? No, the real debate lies in our models of evolution in the past. There are somewhat opposing theories of how evolution has taken place (and will continue to do so). Darwin was a gradualist whose model involved organisms changing slowly over time due to natural selection. Some organisms, however, seem to have stayed the same for a long time, then changed suddenly, which doesn’t quite fit with Darwin’s model. Keep in mind that these are debates about how evolution has occurred, not about whether it has occurred. Among those who argue against evolution, the real issue is whether new species, like us, have evolved. That’s called speciation. It is a result of evolution by gradual natural selection or any other means. If you ignore DNA, then the debate over speciation seems to revolve around a few old bones and other fossils, which for some people is just not enough to understand nor convince.
Craig Messerman writes from Missoula.
|
 |
 |
Add your comment now! Write your comment in the form below.
(Email address is for verification only. If you'd like to email a story, look for the link above)