[CarolinaGuitarman]

"If the vast array of species of plant, animal and insect here today were to have come into being by blind chance through a precess of evolution,..."

Evolution doesn't proceed though *blind chance*.

" you either have to start at some point with no life at all, or explain the origin of the proto-life."

Evolutionary theory starts with the first imperfectly self-replicating organism. It matters not how this organism came to be. In the same way, it matters not when calculating f=ma where matter came from.

[CarolinaGuitarman]

That should be *through* not *though*.

[muawiyah]

Again, Carolina-guitano, as you note speciation was presumed to arise out of imperfect reproduction ~ that is, mutation. On the other hand, we now know that some species differ from others in but one gene, and by one "letter" transposed with another in the gene sequence.

So, what is it stokes the fires of speciation?

No doubt it's not that transposition by itself ~

[William Terrell]

Evolution doesn't proceed though *blind chance*.

Then what directed it? Intelligence?

Evolutionary theory starts with the first imperfectly self-replicating organism. It matters not how this organism came to be.

Basic to the theory is the lack of an intelligence behind the life we see here, now. Hence the Great Debate among evolutionists, creationists and intelligent designers. Where the proto-organism came from would be central to the issue, don't you think?