[donh]

Variation in fruitflies does not necessarily parlay into something as huge and as minutely ramified as ‘The Origin of Species and the Descent of Man.’

The argument for evolutionary theory does not rest on observing every minute step in the process, any more than the theory of universal gravitation relies on observing its effects in every square inch of the known universe, or the theory of continental drift relies on someone seeing south america and africa separate.

[Mrs. Don-o]

You wrote, "The argument for evolutionary theory does not rest on observing every minute step in the process, any more than the theory of universal gravitation relies on observing its effects in every square inch of the known universe, or the theory of continental drift relies on someone seeing south america and africa separate."

This is true; but whereas we have, for instance, measured the effect of gravity many many times, on objects as diverse as motes of dust and galaxies, your argument rests on the assumption that the elaboration of new types of organs, systems, and body plans has actually been observed somewhere, sometime, even once, which it has not. Volley back, please. I could learn. <..>