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To: RadioAstronomer
I "know" evolution is the most valid scientific model we have (it is not a belief system like religion). The physical evidence is overwhelming.

Agreed that evolution is the best explanation thus far for the physical evidence.

Where I think the evidence gets rather thin (not that the thinness disproves evolution itself), is on the matter of what causes evolution. Fortuitous combinations of random mutations over time and filtered by natural selection is certainly a possibility... but is that demonstrated?




46 posted on 02/20/2002 1:15:06 PM PST by Sabertooth
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To: Sabertooth
Fortuitous combinations of random mutations over time and filtered by natural selection is certainly a possibility... but is that demonstrated?

There is far more involved here. Genetic drift and other factors play a part also. Unfortunately I start roaming into territory that is outside of my specialty and formal education. Astro/space is my expertise. Hopefully some of the Biologists/geologists will chime in. :)

51 posted on 02/20/2002 1:28:26 PM PST by RadioAstronomer
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To: Sabertooth
Fortuitous combinations of random mutations over time and filtered by natural selection is certainly a possibility... but is that demonstrated?

Galapagos finches (Geospiza fortis) have been studied for years by Peter and Rosemary Grant of Princeton University. They have been studying the beak sizes of these birds relative to the amount of rainfall the islands receive annually. In wet years, finches with smaller beaks are favored because of the abundance of small, easy to crush seeds. During drought years, only larger, tougher seeds are available. Finches with small beaks are unable to open these seeds and die out, while finches with larger beaks survive. This is natural selection (or evolution).

55 posted on 02/20/2002 1:39:42 PM PST by Scully
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To: Sabertooth
Where I think the evidence gets rather thin (not that the thinness disproves evolution itself), is on the matter of what causes evolution.

My belief--completely unscientific and purely philosophical--is that God chooses to make it look random, so as to not leave His fingerprints all over the place. He does this for one purpose, and one purpose only--to not interfere with our free will.

If God were to leave definitive evidence of non-random evolution, then our ability to freely choose to serve him would not exist.

It's like this: suppose there is an elephant in the room with you. Theoretically, one has free will to say that the elephant isn't there. However, no matter how sincerely one holds the belief that there isn't an elephant in the room, the room is STILL going to be extremely crowded.

61 posted on 02/20/2002 2:03:04 PM PST by Poohbah
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