Science recognizes a distinction between "complex chemistry" and "simple life", though where, exactly, that line should be drawn is a matter of discussion.
Prions which cause mad-cow disease are certainly organic chemistry, not biology.
Viruses: still chemistry, not life.
Bacteria: life.
But organic chemistry can and does evolve, and that is the basis for scientific hypotheses explaining how chemistry grew into life.
Jack Hydrazine: "Did it just adapt and not become more complex over time?
Did it not add information to itself by some not-understood process or did it mutate?"
Adaption = evolution, evolution = adaption.
Adaption / evolution can mutate from simple to complex, or complex to simple, depending on natural selection.
Yes, "complexification" is indeed an overall long-term effect of evolution / adaption, but in circumstances where complexity is a problem for survival, complexity is often eliminated.
For a quick example, think of: legs on whales.
Jack Hydrazine: "When did the definition of evolution go from adding more information and creating more complexity in an organism to just simple adaptations where no information or complexity have been added?"
But you have simply redefined evolution to fit your anti-evolution beliefs.
In fact, basic evolution theory, from the time of Darwin has consisted of two confirmed facts: 1) descent with modifications and 2) natural selection.
Yes, the results of evolution, including increased complexity, are often noted, but it's not inevitable, given that nature sometimes selects simplicity over complexity.
Jack Hydrazine: "Has evolution ever been directly observed?"
Evolution = adaption, adaption = evolution.
The fact of small mutations from parents to offspring have been observed, even in humans, over many generations.
The results of human or natural selection have been observed in many domesticated animals, and in wild animals subject to environmental changes.
The effects of evolution / adaption on DNA can be measured, allele by allele, in comparisons of different biological breeds, sub-species, species, genera & families, etc.
Bottom line: the parts of evolution / adaption which have been observed (i.e., mutations, natural selection) are facts, while that which cannot be observed (i.e., long term changes) is evolution theory.
