Why Evolution is True?

Why Evolution is True?

This beautifully written and fascinating book delves into the answers to several questions; How has (and is) evolution tested scientifically? What predictions do scientists make based on the Theory of Evolution? Have these predictions been supported by the experimental evidence? This book is Coyne's detailed presentation of the most impressive and modern discoveries of fossil, animal and plant data that have been published in a variety of scientific fields that impinge upon and contribute to The Theory of Evolution.

Take the field of biogeography, for example. Biogeographers have long known that there are two types of islands: oceanic islands, which arose from the seafloor and have never been connected to a large land mass and continental islands, which have become isolated from a large land mass sometime during their history due to rising sea levels or fracturing continental plates. Biogeographers have documented time and again that these two island types can be easily distinguished because all oceanic islands lack native mammals, amphibians and freshwater fish -- animals that are present on continental islands. This is not due to any defects associated with continental life since humans have introduced continental species such as rats, goats, pigs and other domestic animals onto oceanic islands throughout history, demonstrating that continental species are quite adept at island life. Additionally, species found on oceanic islands are often very similar to each other -- radiations from a few ancestral species -- while those on continental islands are not.

"Why would a creator happen to leave amphibians, mammals, fish, and reptiles off oceanic islands, but not continental ones?" wonders Coyne. "Why did a creator produce radiations of similar species on oceanic islands, but not continental ones? And why were the species on oceanic islands created to resemble those from the nearest mainland?"
(snip)

Developmental biologists have identified atavisms that betray close evolutionary relationships, too. Atavisms are dormant ancestral features that are sporadically expressed during embryonic development and sometimes after birth, too. This is likely due to the activation of genes from an organism's evolutionary ancestors that remain normally unexpressed. For example, humans possess the genes for making tails, but these genes are usually deactivated. But not always: page 63 has a photograph of a human infant with a 3-4 inch atavistic tail!
(snip)

Dead genes are even found in the human genome. One example is the human inability to manufacture our own vitamin C …………….

"Why would a creator put a pathway for making vitamin C in all these species, and then inactivate it?" Coyne asks. "Why would the same inactivating mutation be present in all primates, and a different one in guinea pigs?"
(snip)

Coyne also includes an interesting section in the last chapter of the book where he explores the fear that evolution inspires in many religious people. He points out that religious opposition to evolution is not due to a lack of scientific evidence, for there is plenty of that, but it stems mainly from fears that the moral fabric of society will fall apart if people accept the fact that humans descended from ape-like ancestors.

Sam Codger, believe what you want. I will believe in Creationism--either way it is belief.

ziggy wrote:

Sam Codger, believe what you want. I will believe in Creationism--either way it is belief.

To "believe" and to think are not at all the same. Any damn foul can have "belief".

TerryRC wrote:All organized Creator Religions are based in ignorance and fear.

Don't forget control of the populace.

TerryRC wrote:
Also, christianity is on the wane in the US, amen.

ziggy wrote:So then what does make one a Christian?

SamCogar wrote:A similar claim as that which makes one an ACLU member.