Changes

==Why new forms of life appeared==

==Why new forms of life appeared==

Evolutionists say that physical causes (such as [[mutation]]) can alter the [[genetic]] material in the member of a species. These changes are passed on to the member's descendants, unless they are detrimental (see [[natural selection]]). If enough of these changes accumulate, completely new species come into being. Every species of life descended from other species, all the way back to one-celled organisms. Natural causes alone are sufficient to account for the emergence of all forms of life.

Physical causes (such as [[mutation]]) can alter the [[genetic]] material in the member of a species. These changes are passed on to the member's descendants, although [[natural selection]] tends to weed out detrimental changes. Depending on the changes, enough might accumulate to the point where some of the descendants are not interfertile with others, so they will be classified as a new species. This process is known as ''speciation''.

Old Earth creationists agree with evolutionists about mutations being caused by physical phenomena such as [[cosmic rays]]; and about genetic change being passed on to descendants (see [[microevolution]]). Not all accept [[common descent]], especially in regards to [[people]]. They also disagree about the sufficiency of natural causes: God must have intervened to make all major changes (see [[macroevolution]], [[missing link]]).  

According to evolutionists, every species of life descended from other species, all the way back to one-celled organisms. They believe that natural causes alone are sufficient to account for the emergence of all forms of life.

Young Earth creationists agree only about genetic changes within a species, such as the breeds of horses or dogs or cats, which they call "microevolution". They reject common descent. They believe that all species were created by [[God]] less than 10,000 years ago.

Not all old-Earth creationists accept [[common descent]], especially in regards to [[people]]. They also disagree about the sufficiency of natural causes: God must have intervened to make all major changes (see [[macroevolution]], [[missing link]]).

 

Thus they reject common descent.