Conservapedia:Evolution two

This is a proposed article, to be written by Horace and Karajou, for the purpose of writing a balanced and informed article on the differences between the theory of evolution and creation. To concentrate on this task, we ask everyone else to refrain from editing here, except as to provide good source material on the talk page. The above title is not set in stone; the article will be moved to a better title when finished. Karajou 00:30, 24 April 2007 (EDT)

Structure

• Intro paragraph on the subject of evolution in brief, including briefly describing creation.
• History of the theory of evolution

This includes persons who proposed similar theories prior to Darwin

History of Darwin's theory (it should be restricted to the theory itself, and not his life)

• Structure of Darwin's theory
• Reactions to Origin of Species
• Creation as pertaining to Genesis

how it conflicts with evolution

• Support for both

This subheading could detail each pillar of support for evolution (possibly eight pillars), along with following subheadings which are arguments against it.

• The Scientific Method

This should detail how it has been used to support evolution, as well as being against it.

• References and links.

The above is subject to change as far as structure is concerned. Karajou 00:30, 24 April 2007 (EDT)

Introduction

The theory of evolution is a scientific theory which seeks to explain the existence of the myriad species which are found on the Earth today without resort to supernatural explanations (such as the intervention of a God or gods). The theory stands in contrast to theories of creation which propose that the all life was created through the direct actions of a God or gods as per, for example, the account told in the Bible's book of Genesis. Accordingly, the theory of evolution is often strongly opposed by those who believe in creation. Evolution stipulates life came into being and evolved (changed) over the course of many millions of years while Creation holds that life appeared very recently, and has not changed.

The theory of evolution is essentially based on two observations: (1) that all living things are involved in a struggle for survival; and (2) that all living things can pass on their characteristics to their offspring. It relies upon the combined operation of two processes generally referred to as natural selection and genetic mutation.

Natural selection proposes that in nature some living things will do better than others and, in doing so, will survive to produce more offspring. As a result, over time the characteristics of those more successful individuals will become more common in the population.

Genetic mutation is a process which allows for a physical difference to exist between an individuals and their offspring. Differences which arise as a result of genetic mutation are chance events and most such differences are generally unlikely to be advantageous to the offspring.

The Theory of Evolution proposes that over a very long period of time the differences brought about by mutations which are found to be advantageous (through the process of natural selection) will result in changes within species and the development of new species.

The theory of evolution

History of the concept of evolution

It has long been observed that parents can pass their physical characteristics on to their offspring. Farmers have bred animals on that basis for many centuries and they, along with, for example, dog and horse breeders, continue to do so today.

The mechanism by which those characteristics are acquired and passed on was only discovered relatively recently, but theories have existed for some time. One such theory was proposed by Jean Baptiste de Lamarck (1774 - 1829). He believed that animals could acquire physical characteristics during their lifetime and then pass them on to their offspring.

References

• Campbell, Niel A. and others. Biology, Concepts and Connections, Fifth Edition, Pearson Education, San Fransico, CA (2006).

Links

• Lamarck's work