In the paragraph above the only major point we disagree on is the effect of mendellian genetics on evolution. At the time "On Origin of the Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life" was published, Mendellian genetics had not been discovered. Darwin made the assumption that the traits of each parent 'melded' in their progenitors and that therefore a favorable mutation would be easily passed throughout a whole species in a short time. This made his theory very viable. This was proven untrue because like the rest of his book it was not science but a bunch of assumptions without scientific basis strung together to prove a theory. What mendellian genetics shows is that it is very difficult, if not impossible to pass on a new trait throughout an entire population. Here's why. For each gene we have a reciprocal gene called an allele. During reproduction only one of these paired genes gets passed on to the next generation. This selection is totally random. So right from the start a new gene has only one chance in two of being passed on to the next generation. Being a new gene, no one else in the population has it. Therefore the chances of its being passed on to each succeeding generation are cut in half with each generation. This makes the spread of a new mutation almost impossible. It can happen, but it will take numerous favorable mutations to die in the genetic abyss before one will finally make it throughout the whole population. Now evolutionists thing that there has been enough time for all these new genes to spread throughout all these different species, but that is not the case. The two-three billion years since life began on earth are insufficient time for the numerous mutations that were necessary to spread throughout all living things when the delays caused by Mendellian genetics are taken into account. Darwin realized quite well that the amount of time to spread these traits was critical for the viability of his theory. Mendellian genetics extends the time far too much for his theory to be viable.
It is really irrelevant whether Darwin knew about Mendel's work or not. He knew enough about genetics to know that certain observable phenotypes may be passed from parent to offspring.
What mendellian genetics shows is that it is very difficult, if not impossible to pass on a new trait throughout an entire population.
It shows nothing of the sort. A favorable mutation is one that, by definition, confers a survival advantage to the organism. An organism with an advantage has a better chance of reproducing, thus of spreading the mutation. An unfavorable mutation tends to be bred out of a population, and a neutral mutation remains in the population at pretty much a stable frequency. The spread of mutations throughout a population is not random, nor does it take a long time. This is all basic biology, which is usually taught in freshman level biology courses.
Now evolutionists thing that there has been enough time for all these new genes to spread throughout all these different species, but that is not the case. The two-three billion years since life began on earth are insufficient time for the numerous mutations that were necessary to spread throughout all living things when the delays caused by Mendellian genetics are taken into account.
Actually, a couple of billion years is an inconceivable amount of time. Consider how quickly the flu virus mutates itself, or how quickly bacteria develop resistances to new antibiotics, or insects to new pesticides. These events take only a handful of years.