Biological EvolutionChapter 10

Biological Evolution• Evolution the word, has several meanings• Evolution – gradual change to improve or become

more complex - change• Evolution – random changes made by chance to

get what we see today – goo to you (theory of evolution)

• Biological Evolution – process of living things going through random changes through history to get what we see today• Evidence interpreted by a worldview

10A How Biological Evolution Supposedly took place• Evolutionists feel that they can support their theory if

they can show how biological evolution could have happened• 1. Offspring must first inherit new traits that make them

different from their parents• 2. New traits must improve the offspring's ability to survive

• Problems• 1. limitation of information proved by Mendel• Mutations – became source of new traits

• 2. assume that the new trait is a positive change• If that animal doesn’t have lots of babies, it won’t be

spread throughout the population

10A How Biological Evolution Supposedly took place• Early evolution• Lamarck – Theory of inheritance of acquired

characteristics• Caused by an organisms environment• Ex giraffe’s long neck

• The longer necked giraffes and legs stretched to get to the tall leaves – desired long neck – children inherited this characteristic• Magic fluid

• Problem• Traits that an organism acquires do not change the

organisms genetic material

• My children will not inherit• Ear piercing• My muscular build• My knowledge

10A How Biological Evolution Supposedly took place• Darwin’s Theory: Natural Selection• Every species there are more young produced than can

remain alive, therefore, some will die• Individuals in a species will compete with one another for

the things necessary for survival such as food, shelter, and mates• In every species there are some individuals that are able

to compete for things more effectively• Those individuals that have traits that allow them to win

the competition are the individuals that will live and reproduce. This process is sometimes called the survival of the fittest

10A How Biological Evolution Supposedly took place• Those individuals that reproduce pass on their

traits• Only the organisms with the traits best suited to

survive will be able to reproduce and pass on their traits

• Therefore cause new organism to evolve

• All these are observable, but• Information is already available, not showing an increase

of information, but a decrease of information• Also assumes that a favorable trait wins out• If that organism doesn’t have any babies – too bad

10A How Biological Evolution Supposedly took place• The peppered moth• Of Moth’s and Men by Judith Hooper• “in 25 years of research, I have only ever seen 2

moth’s casually on a tree”• All pictures are faked • Lies perpetuated as truth – still in textbooks• Industrial melisma – an Icon of evolution• Dark colored moths, survive b/c birds can’t see

them

10A How Biological Evolution Supposedly took place• Origin of Species – written by Darwin• Tries to illustrate natural selection, by describing

selective breeding• Man chooses the traits that he wants, and breeds out

what he doesn’t want • Loss of information

• So how does evolution take place?• Mutation

10A How Biological Evolution Supposedly took place• De Vries’s Theory: Evolution by Mutation• Mutations form new genes• Usual change – chromosomal mutations• Rearrangement or doubling of existing genes

• For new genes to form, a gene mutation must occur• Mutate once in every 10 million cell divisions• Majority are somatic mutations – only affect organism, not

offspring• Germ mutations pass on to offspring• Only useful mutation for biological evolution

10A How Biological Evolution Supposedly took place• Gene Mutations and Biological Evolution• Question to ask• How many gene mutations would need to take place to

make a new structure?• Spider eye, part of a leaf etc

• Hundreds of thousands of mutations, occurring randomly in just the right genes• impossible

10A How Biological Evolution Supposedly took place• The Harmful Nature of Mutations• Remember the loose screw in the clock?• Most gene mutations will harm an organism

• Evolutionists argue that mutations can cause an organism to improve

• Ex:• Radiation in • Fruit flies• STILL FRUIT FLIES• 5000 generations

10A How Biological Evolution Supposedly took place• Modern Evolutionary Theory• Mutation-selection theory – neo-darwinism• 3 main points• Mutations supply new traits• Organisms produce more offspring than can survive• Selection allows only those with the best traits to survive

• Problems:• Requires countless number of favorable mutations in the

right sequences• Favorable doesn’t mean they produce the most babies• What does the selecting?

10B A Record of Evolution?• Evolutionary family tree• Made to show relationships• Assume evolution• Show common ancestor

10B A Record of Evolution?• Missing Links• Not one single missing link but millions• Gaps in the family tree of evolution• Missing links are still missing• No 50/50 or 20/80 • Creatures found

10B A Record of Evolution?• Homologous structures• Comparing the body parts of different animals• Question• Does a designer always have to use and make totally

different creations? • Do we not see that designers have a certain style?• What style of clothes do you like?• God – creates all so there is like• design

10B A Record of Evolution?• Evolution and the fossil record• Some believe it’s “recorded in stone”• Should find the oldest layers filled

with the oldest organisms at the base of the evolutionary tree

• Should find the youngest layers filled with the youngest organisms towards the top of the evolutionary tree

• Does not exist

10B A Record of Evolution?• Fossil Deposits• Sometimes rock layers contain only one type of

organisms• Dinosaur cemeteries• Herring cemeteries

10B A Record of Evolution?• Fossils, missing links, and common ancestors• When placed on an evolutionary family tree, most

fossils will fit in the established groups of organisms• Wooly mammoth – basically a large elephant with thick

hair

• Few fossils, do not fit into the established groups of organisms

• Trilobites – arthropod• Quite different from spiders, crabs, and insects

10B A Record of Evolution?• Archaeopteryx• Controversial – missing link? Birds and reptiles• Difference genetically between a feather and a

scale, make some evolutionists believe birds came from mammals

• DON’T Even know!

10B A Record of Evolution?

10B A Record of Evolution?• Living “fossils” - organisms supposedly extinct

millions of years ago, but found today• Coelacanth • Wollemi pine

10B Record of Evolution?• What the fossil record does support• Nowhere on earth is there a complete and uninterrupted

series of fossil layers• Missing links and common ancestors are not represented

by fossils• Much evidence supports the idea of fossils being laid

down over a short period of time - catastrophically

The Ultimate Question• Miller – created amino acids• Amino acids – building blocks of life• Created right hand amino acids

• How much of this experiment is designed?• Fact• Presence of oxygen – destroys amino acids• Atmosphere proven to have different gases• (HIGH AMOUNT OF OXYGEN)

Lucy - Australopithecus• Dated ~ 3.22-3.18 mya• Supposed proof that hominids walked erect

What was the fossil evidence?• This?

No, this – 40% of her bones

Many faces of Lucy

Many faces of Lucy

What evidence did they have for the Face?

Peoples drawings are not Evidence!!!

Lucy is an ape – look at the bones

Lucy is an Ape, Look at her bones