“Truths & Misconceptions About Evolution” Get out your spirals and title your notes. Adapted from the UC Berkley website: http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/misconceptions_faq.php

Disclaimer You are free to chose your beliefs. But you should at least educate yourself on topics and subjects you do not believe in, so you can intelligently / educationally defend your beliefs.

Why we teach Evolution Poll: What is the definition of Evolution? Correct definition of evolution chosen by 48%: Humans and apes have a common ancestor Incorrect definition chosen by 32% of the population: Humans evolved from apes Unsure Population: 20% 52% did not know or understand the definition

Why We Teach Evolution: Public Opinion 83% of Americans polled want Evolution taught in public schools. 70% believe that evolution is compatible with a belief in God From: People for the American Way poll (2000)

Americans with an unanswered / incorrect definition of Evolution (52% of public)

Americans who chose the correct definition of Evolution (48% of public)

Analysis and Conclusion The majority of people who understand evolution and those who do not understand evolution still believed it should be taught in school. But those who do not understand evolution still voted strongly against it being taught. Conclusion: A less complete understanding of Evolution leads to supporting its elimination from science classes. AKA: If we don’t teach evolution, you don’t understand evolution and don’t see the importance of evolution.

How Educated are you about Evolution? The Agree and Disagree Game On the right hand side of your spiral simply answer each statement about evolution with your opinion of “agree” or “disagree” Evolution is a change in inherited, successful characteristics of populations over generations.

Agree or Disagree Evolution is a theory about how life began

Agree or Disagree Charles Darwin, the scientists, who proposed the Theory of Evolution & Natural Selection was not educated about Christianity and did not believe in God.

Agree or Disagree Evolution is like a climb up the ladder of progress; organisms at the top are better and keep getting better

Agree or Disagree Evolution means life changes by ‘chance’

Natural Selection involves organisms trying to adapt Agree or Disagree Natural Selection involves organisms trying to adapt

Agree or Disagree Evolution is ‘just’ a theory

Agree or Disagree Evolution is a theory in crisis and more and more scientists are losing confidence in it.

Agree or Disagree Fossils and fossil records help disprove evolution.

Agree or Disagree Evolutionary theory is incomplete and is currently unable to give an explanation of life. ANSWER: Fossils are defined as the remains or traces of organisms that died more than 10,000 years ago, therefore, by definition the minimum time it takes to make a fossil is 10,000 years.

“Evolution changes individual organisms and populations” Organisms cannot change their traits If an organism has a more “fit” or “desirable” trait their GENES will most likely be passed on to more offspring More offspring means more of the population will have that organisms trait

Agree or Disagree Evolution is not science because it is not observable or testable.

Agree or Disagree Most educated people reject Darwin’s theory of natural selection and evolution.

Agree or Disagree The reveal

“Evolution is a theory about the origin of life.” Evolution is the theory about how life changed after its origin. “Origin of Species” not the “Origin of Life”

Charles Darwin, the scientists, who proposed the Theory of Evolution & Natural Selection was not educated about Christianity and did not believe in God. Growing up Charles Darwin attended the Church of England and attended the Christ’s College of Cambridge. He completed his degree, but was never Ordained.

“Evolution is like a climb up the ladder of progress; organisms at the top are better and keep getting better ” Natural selection weeds out individuals that are unfit in a situation. For evolution, “good enough” is good enough. Being “Fit” is connected to the environment, not to progress.

“Evolution means that life changed ‘by chance.’” Random mutations are ultimately the source of genetic variation. BUT, natural selection, is not random. EXAMPLE: the streamline of these tuna is no accident, a more streamlined shape allows these fish to move faster through the water.

“Natural selection involves organisms ‘trying’ to adapt.” Natural selection leads to adaptation, but the process doesn’t involve “trying.” Either an individual has genes that are good enough to survive and reproduce, or it doesn’t. Can’t get right genes by “trying.”

“Natural selection gives organisms what they ‘need.’” Natural selection has no intentions or senses; it cannot sense what a species “needs.” If a population has a variation of a gene that allows those individuals to survive better, they will produce more offspring, and the population will evolve.

“Evolution is ‘just’ a theory.” Theory – in science, a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world Scientific theories are explanations that are based on lines of evidence, enable valid predictions, and have been tested in many ways.

“Evolution is a theory in crisis and is collapsing as scientists lose confidence in it.” Scientists debate HOW evolution took place, not WHETHER it took place. It is the debates of HOW evolution took place that are often misinterpreted as debates about WHETHER evolution occurs.

“fossil record disprove evolution” Evolutionary biologists do not expect that all transitional forms will be found, because lots of organisms don’t fossilize well and environmental conditions for forming good fossils are not that common. BUT Scientists HAVE found complete fossil records showing gradual changes overtime.

“Evolutionary theory is incomplete and is currently unable to give an explanation of life.” Evolutionary science is a work in progress. New discoveries are made and explanations adjusted when necessary. We do know a great deal about: The history of life The pattern of lineage-splitting through time The mechanisms that caused these changes

“Evolution changes individual organisms and populations” Organisms cannot change their traits If an organism has a more “fit” or “desirable” trait their GENES will most likely be passed on to more offspring More offspring means more of the population will have that organisms trait

“Evolution is not science because it is not observable or testable.” Science is accomplished by gathering evidence from the real world and inferring how things work. For example: An astronomer cannot hold the stars in his hand. A geologist cannot go back in time. Artificial selection among guppies can demonstrate microevolution in the laboratory.

Evolution of Guppy Population Tank with Course Sand Tank with Fine Sand Observed and Tested!!

“Most educated individuals have rejected ‘Darwinism’.” SO FAR, there have been no credible challenges to the basic Darwin principle that evolution exists, based on natural selection choosing more “fit” variations in populations and that different species share common ancestors. Darwin’s idea that evolution is based that evolutions takes place at a slow deliberate pace and has since been modified to include the idea that evolution can proceed at a relatively rapid pace under some circumstances.