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== Identification problem ==

== Identification problem ==

A major problem with identifying transitional forms is in determining whether a particular fossil or living thing is truly intermediate between two others, or is merely an unrelated form which has characteristics common to both other forms.

A major problem with identifying transitional forms is in determining whether a particular fossil or living thing is truly intermediate between two others, or is merely an unrelated form which has characteristics common to both other forms. What you have described here is a transistional form. Its relation is impossible to prove but a transitional form is an animal that has properties from two groups of animals e.g. birds and dinosaurs. therefore if a fossil has features of birds and dinosaurs it is a transitional form between birds and dinosaurs.

[[Archaeopteryx]], for example, has some features in common with both living [[bird]]s and [[reptile]]s, and is often quoted as an intermediate form.

[[Archaeopteryx]], for example, has some features in common with both living [[bird]]s and [[reptile]]s, and is often quoted as an intermediate form.

It was not covered with part-[[scale]]s/part-[[feather]]s, but had fully-functioning feathers and [[wing]]s, and was capable of [[flight]].

It was not covered with part-[[scale]]s/part-[[feather]]s, but had fully-functioning feathers and [[wing]]s, and was capable of [[flight]]. It also had teeth. A feature not found in modern birds.

There is therefore no reason to think that it is not simply a bird with some features in common with reptiles.

There is therefore no reason to think that it is not simply a bird with some features in common with reptiles but since this is what a transitional form is its not a problem for evolution. If Archaeopteryx could fly it was more bird then dinosaur, but it was still a transition between the two. The fact that it isn't slap bang in the middle is irrelevant because it is still a transitional form!

 

I don't get it. People who make this claim admit that Archaeopteryx meets the definition of a transitional form, but then say it isn't one for some reason.

Evolutionists have criticised creationists for claiming that if an intermediate form is discovered, it merely creates two gaps where there was previously one.

Evolutionists have criticised creationists for claiming that if an intermediate form is discovered, it merely creates two gaps where there was previously one.

This criticism ignores the size of the gaps.<ref>Woodmorappe, John, [http://creationontheweb.com/content/view/4248 Does a ‘transitional form’ replace one gap with two gaps?], ''Journal of Creation'' 14(3):5–6, August 2000.</ref>

This criticism ignores the size of the gaps.<ref>Woodmorappe, John, [http://creationontheweb.com/content/view/4248 Does a ‘transitional form’ replace one gap with two gaps?], ''Journal of Creation'' 14(3):5–6, August 2000.</ref>

If the remaining two gaps are large, then the creationist claim is justified.

If the remaining two gaps are large, then the creationist claim is justified.

Rather than simply producing the occasional form which appears to be intermediate between two different forms, evolutionists need to demonstrate what [[Charles Darwin]] called a "finely-graduated organic chain".<ref name="chain" />

Rather than simply producing the occasional form which appears to be intermediate between two different forms, evolutionists need to demonstrate what [[Charles Darwin]] called a "finely-graduated organic chain".<ref name="chain" /> The problem here is that most animals are not preserved in the fossil record. Besides we have more then enough to show a smooth transition between the main groups e.g. reptiles-mammels

Despite many more fossils being discovered since Darwin's time, the continued lack of a series of fossils showing a smooth transition led [[Stephen Jay Gould]] and [[Niles Eldredge]] to propose [[Punctuated Equilibrium]], which says that the change from one form to another took place is short bursts which generally would not leave a fossil trace.

Despite many more fossils being discovered since Darwin's time, the continued lack of a series of fossils showing a smooth transition led [[Stephen Jay Gould]] and [[Niles Eldredge]] to propose [[Punctuated Equilibrium]], which says that the change from one form to another took place is short bursts which generally would not leave a fossil trace.