Chapter 10

Evolution the word, has several meanings Evolution – gradual change to improve or become more complex - change Evolution – random changes made by chance to get what we see today – goo to you (theory of evolution) Biological Evolution – process of living things going through random changes through history to get what we see today Evidence interpreted by a worldview

Evolutionists feel that they can support their theory if they can show how biological evolution could have happened 1. Offspring must first inherit new traits that make them different from their parents 2. New traits must improve the offspring's ability to survive Problems 1. limitation of information proved by Mendel Mutations – became source of new traits 2. assume that the new trait is a positive change If that animal doesn’t have lots of babies, it won’t be spread throughout the population

Early evolution Lamarck – Theory of inheritance of acquired characteristics Caused by an organisms environment Ex giraffe’s long neck The longer necked giraffes and legs stretched to get to the tall leaves – desired long neck – children inherited this characteristic Magic fluid Problem Traits that an organism acquires do not change the organisms genetic material

My children will not inherit Ear piercing My muscular build My knowledge

Darwin’s Theory: Natural Selection Every species there are more young produced than can remain alive, therefore, some will die Individuals in a species will compete with one another for the things necessary for survival such as food, shelter, and mates In every species there are some individuals that are able to compete for things more effectively Those individuals that have traits that allow them to win the competition are the individuals that will live and reproduce. This process is sometimes called the survival of the fittest

Those individuals that reproduce pass on their traits Only the organisms with the traits best suited to survive will be able to reproduce and pass on their traits Therefore cause new organism to evolve All these are observable, but Information is already available, not showing an increase of information, but a decrease of information Also assumes that a favorable trait wins out If that organism doesn’t have any babies – too bad

The peppered moth Of Moth’s and Men by Judith Hooper “in 25 years of research, I have only ever seen 2 moth’s casually on a tree” All pictures are faked Lies perpetuated as truth – still in textbooks Industrial melisma – an Icon of evolution Dark colored moths, survive b/c birds can’t see them

Origin of Species – written by Darwin Tries to illustrate natural selection, by describing selective breeding Man chooses the traits that he wants, and breeds out what he doesn’t want Loss of information So how does evolution take place? Mutation

De Vries’s Theory: Evolution by Mutation Mutations form new genes Usual change – chromosomal mutations Rearrangement or doubling of existing genes For new genes to form, a gene mutation must occur Mutate once in every 10 million cell divisions Majority are somatic mutations – only affect organism, not offspring Germ mutations pass on to offspring Only useful mutation for biological evolution

Gene Mutations and Biological Evolution Question to ask How many gene mutations would need to take place to make a new structure? Spider eye, part of a leaf etc Hundreds of thousands of mutations, occurring randomly in just the right genes impossible

The Harmful Nature of Mutations Remember the loose screw in the clock? Most gene mutations will harm an organism Evolutionists argue that mutations can cause an organism to improve Ex: Radiation in Fruit flies STILL FRUIT FLIES 5000 generations

Modern Evolutionary Theory Mutation-selection theory – neo-darwinism 3 main points Mutations supply new traits Organisms produce more offspring than can survive Selection allows only those with the best traits to survive Problems: Requires countless number of favorable mutations in the right sequences Favorable doesn’t mean they produce the most babies What does the selecting?

Evolutionary family tree Made to show relationships Assume evolution Show common ancestor

Missing Links Not one single missing link but millions Gaps in the family tree of evolution Missing links are still missing No 50/50 or 20/80 Creatures found

Homologous structures Comparing the body parts of different animals Question Does a designer always have to use and make totally different creations? Do we not see that designers have a certain style? What style of clothes do you like? God – creates all so there is like design

Evolution and the fossil record Some believe it’s “recorded in stone” Should find the oldest layers filled with the oldest organisms at the base of the evolutionary tree Should find the youngest layers filled with the youngest organisms towards the top of the evolutionary tree Does not exist

Fossil Deposits Sometimes rock layers contain only one type of organisms Dinosaur cemeteries Herring cemeteries

Fossils, missing links, and common ancestors When placed on an evolutionary family tree, most fossils will fit in the established groups of organisms Wooly mammoth – basically a large elephant with thick hair Few fossils, do not fit into the established groups of organisms Trilobites – arthropod Quite different from spiders, crabs, and insects

Archaeopteryx Controversial – missing link? Birds and reptiles Difference genetically between a feather and a scale, make some evolutionists believe birds came from mammals DON’T Even know!

Living “fossils” - organisms supposedly extinct millions of years ago, but found today Coelacanth Wollemi pine

What the fossil record does support Nowhere on earth is there a complete and uninterrupted series of fossil layers Missing links and common ancestors are not represented by fossils Much evidence supports the idea of fossils being laid down over a short period of time - catastrophically

Miller – created amino acids Amino acids – building blocks of life Created right hand amino acids How much of this experiment is designed? Fact Presence of oxygen – destroys amino acids Atmosphere proven to have different gases (HIGH AMOUNT OF OXYGEN)

Dated ~ mya Supposed proof that hominids walked erect

This? No, this – 40% of her bones