Changes

Evolution uses the idea of Natural Selection to explain why some living things survive at the expense of other living things, but Natural Selection doesn't explain how the variations to select from came to be.

Evolution uses the idea of Natural Selection to explain why some living things survive at the expense of other living things, but Natural Selection doesn't explain how the variations to select from came to be.

Variations can arise in at least two different ways.

Variations can arise in at least two different ways.

* When male and female produce offspring, half the offspring's [[DNA]] is derived from each parent.  Thus the offspring have a different selection of genetic [[information]] than either parent.

* When male and female produce offspring, half the offspring's [[Deoxyribonucleic acid|DNA]] is derived from each parent.  Thus the offspring have a different selection of genetic [[information]] than either parent.

* Mutations can alter the genetic information.

* Mutations can alter the genetic information.

Some of the variations produced by these mechanisms are better suited for given environments than other variations.

Some of the variations produced by these mechanisms are better suited for given environments than other variations.

According to evolution, mutations can give rise to new genetic information, thus the offspring can have new capabilities that were not coded in the DNA of their parents, and that Natural Selection will therefore select for these new capabilities if they constitute a survival advantage.

According to evolution, mutations can give rise to new genetic information, thus the offspring can have new capabilities that were not coded in the DNA of their parents, and that Natural Selection will therefore select for these new capabilities if they constitute a survival advantage.

Creationists reject this claim (of mutations producing new genetic information), on the grounds that, firstly, it is contrary to the Biblical account and secondly, has not been observed in science.

Creationists reject this claim (of mutations producing new genetic information), on the grounds that it has not been observed in science.

In the example above of plans for a dam, the engineer started off with plans that had been designed by someone, and although some of the measurements were altered, nothing new was introduced.

In the example above of plans for a dam, the engineer started off with plans that had been designed by someone, and although some of the measurements were altered, nothing new was introduced.

This is analogous to what we observe in nature.

This is analogous to what we observe in nature.

We see that variations only come to already-existing plans ([[DNA]]), and that changes to the plans produce nothing new.

We see that variations only come to already-existing plans (DNA), and that changes to the plans produce nothing new.

== References ==

== References ==