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Riz Khan - Darwin's legacy - 21 July 08 Part 1
The first of a series about evolution, Darwin, Creationism and so-called "Intelligent Design".
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Do away with Darwin!
This opinion article written for the NY Times makes a great point.
"It suggests that Darwin was the beginning and the end, the alpha and omega, of evolutionary biology, and that the subject hasn’t changed much in the 149 years since the publication of the “Origin.”"
Although Darwin's research and findings are the cornerstones to most evolutionary theories today, it is hard to stray from the shadow of this giant. If scientists avoid looking at "Darwinian" ideas, we may be able to progress further toward truth. This opinion article written for the NY Times makes a great point. ... more -
Darwin's Origin
Darwin, whose life is now almost obscured by a veil of history and controversy, is most famous for his legendary voyage on the Beagle; during which his visits to the Galapagos islands sowed the seeds that would later flourish into the theory of evolution: He stands as the first man in history able to provide an explanation for how our species came to be.
However much of his time during which he formulated his ideas was spent in quiet contemplation, often with his family in his own garden at his home in Kent, England. Also, while many people cite 'Darwin's finches' as the birds which sparked in him the theme of adaptive evolution, it was instead the pigeons which he bred at his leisure that fascinated him for most of his life.
He bred the birds to investigate, for example, how odd feather shapes and other variations could be passed down successive generations. By crossing birds with different characteristics, he also tried to determine the mechanism by which the finches he observed on the Galapagos developed their specialised beaks.
It was also on one of his many private strolls through the wooded copse in his garden, that he is said to have had his 'eureka' moment, when everything he had observed came together. It came when observing the flowers on the forest floor: Darwin noted the subtle variations between those in his garden, and those he had studied further afield. He thought to himself that "perhaps the plants have migrated down the hill ... and adapted to the slightly different environment there."
This essentially was the theory of evolution by natural selection on a small scale, but it was not until 20 years later when, threatened with a rival publication, he published his life's work in "On the Origin of Species", which stands today as one of the most enlightening works in the history of mankind.
Although his observations on the Beagle laid the foundations for his great theory, it is said that he was conscious that without formal training in Biology, he was unqualified to present what he called his "extravagant views". It was only after quiet, gradual observations in his garden, and with his pigeons, that he finally gained enough courage and certainty to publish his ideas.
Far from being the brutal theory that "survival of the fittest" (a phrase not used by Darwin himself) suggests, his was rather a quiet, elegant theory of the resourcefullness of nature, and totally undeserving of the vicious backlash which came first from Victorian society and, quite depressingly, continues to this day: How far we have come... Darwin, whose life is now almost obscured by a veil of history and controversy, is most famous for his legendary voyage on the Beagle;... more -
Teaching of evolution under threat in US
Lobbyists and Church 'Leaders': two of the most terrifying groups around today, and I would include any other extremist group around the world today that you care to name.
They wield completely unmerited power over the political process, and make a mockery of the supposed "separation of church and state" in the United States. The threat they pose comes in the form of their influence over what is taught to the next generation of US citizens, and in particular their desire to give the subjects of science and religion an equal standing in the education system, threatening to continue to squander the potential of young minds, and to hold back both the social and mental evolution of our species.
Not my words, but the words of ... oh wait, yes, they're my words.
The most recent conflict between science and religion comes in the form of the 'Science Education Act' which was proposed to be included in Louisiana state legislature. When Barbara Forrest, professor of philosophy at Southeastern Louisiana University, faced 30 or 40 of the aforementioned 'types', "she had spent weeks trying to muster opposition to the bill on the grounds that it would allow teachers and school boards across the state to present non-scientific alternatives to evolution, including ideas related to intelligent design".
Forrest, who is also an expert in the history of creationism, argues that "the act is designed to slip ID in "through the back door". The bill's language in particular, names evolution along with global warming, and the origins of life as "worthy of open and objective discussion". While this in itself is not at all controversial, Forrest argues that it is "an attempt to misrepresent evolution as scientifically controversial".
True, while evolution is technically a theory, it it accepted as FACT by 99.9% of the scientific community, and to start a child's education by presenting Intelligent design and evolution as simply two theories is a gross misrepresentation of the evidence, which intelligent design lacks completely. If they were allowed, as religion cannot and will not allow them to, to observe FOR THEMSELVES the evidence, and then make an informed decision, then that would be fine. Religious leaders, however, are quite rightly terrified of this being allowed. As goes the Jesuit maxim, "Give me the child for its first ten years, and I'll give you the man."
The bill was, however, passed by a 94 to 3 majority in the House, and by a unanimous vote in the Senate. Prof. Forrest describes the phrasing of the bill as "very slick", fearing that it provides a "plausible deniability" for creationsists who wish to accept 'Darwinism', i.e. the fact of evolution, on no other grouds than they simply do not want to believe it, critically, without the need to present ANY evidence to support their claims.
Gene Mills, executive director of the 'Louisiana Family Forum', which enjoys close ties with the state's Republican governor, Piyush Jindal, believes that "to teach young people critical thinking skills you have to give them both sides of an issue".
There are so many things wrong with this statement that I don't even know where to begin. Lobbyists and Church 'Leaders': two of the most terrifying groups around today, and I would include any other extremist grou... more -
http://www.salon.com/books/atoms_eden/2008/07/01/saving_darwin/
With biologist Richard Dawkins leading the way, many scientists today are locked in an unending match of whack-a-mole with Christian creationists, who insist that God created heaven, earth and humanity in its present form, and with disciples of intelligent design who want to expel evolution from its scientific prominence in public schools. If you've been following the battle, you might be inclined to believe that Americans are faced with a choice between believing in God and scientific fact. With biologist Richard Dawkins leading the way, many scientists today are locked in an unending match of whack-a-mole with Christian c... more
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One in Eight U.S. Biology Teachers Teaches Creationism
"The results of the first national survey of teachers about evolution in their classrooms are in. Darwin would quiver in his boots to learn that in this day and age, one in eight American biology teachers teach creationism and intelligent design as a sound alternative to his theory. In fact, 13 percent of the country’s teachers think they can run an excellent biology class without even mentioning Darwin or evolution. "
Oh god. "The results of the first national survey of teachers about evolution in their classrooms are in. Darwin would quiver in his boot... more -
Theory of Evolution: proven (again!)?
One of the main arguments against Darwin's Theory of Evolution is the mistaken belief that it has not or can not be proven in our lifetime. Intelligent Design proponents claim that evolution "can't be proven" because "it happens slowly, over many years." Since we can't watch it, we can't prove it; or so the argument goes
But in fact, we can watch evolution in action. That's because the correct metric isn't a clock-tick or a calendar, but successive generations. Life forms with shorter life spans can evolve into new forms in just a few years. And numerous life forms have evolved as we watched.
National Geographic reports on just such a case; the three-spine stickleback.
Scientists have been studying Lake Washington in Washington Stage since the 1950's. They weren't studying the lake to prove Darwin's Theory, they were studying the effect of pollution on the lake. The State was pumping 76 million gallons of sewage into the lake each day.
When the scientists began studying the lake, it was a cesspool. It was hard to see through the murky waters, and the bottom was covered in a slimy ooze. The tiny stickleback managed to survive in the filth; it hid from predators by sinking into the muck on the lake bed.
They stopped the sewage, and filtered the water, and scoured the lake bed clean over the last 40 years. And scientists monitored the lake's health, taking samples of all the life found in it, including the stickleback.
When the lake was a murky disaster, predators like trout couldn't see the stickleback; and if it felt threatend, it "disappeared" into the ooze. But once the waters cleared up, suddenly it could be seen by trout, and there was no place to hide.
So the species evolved heavier scales to protect them from the sharp teeth of predators. The change from one form to the other is documented.
In the first photo, you can see the beige flesh of the stickleback; in the second, you can see the protective plates it evolved, colored pink.
It's the same process that has rendered many anti-biotics powerless in just a few years; bacteria live their lives in hours, giving them thousands of generations to evolve protection against penicillin and other drugs.
Evolution is a proven fact, and anyone who tells you different is lying. One of the main arguments against Darwin's Theory of Evolution is the mistaken belief that it has not or can not be proven in our... more -
Ben Stein's movie defending "Intelligent Design" being released Apr...
The movie "EXPELLED: No Intelligence Allowed" is a documentary about how the people promoting ID are claiming to be persecuted by the scientific community, who will not allow ID to be introduced into public schools.
There was a recent court case, Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District, which determined that Intelligent Design was creationism in disguise. NOVA produced a documentary about the case that can be viewed on-line.
One of the positions the judge cited for his decision to rule against the teaching of ID in the class room was based on evidence found showing “the text referred to as a resource for ID, Of Pandas and People, had originally been a creationist text.”
www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/id/
Q: What is science?
Q: Isn't evolution just a theory, not a fact?
Q: What is intelligent design?
Q: Why not teach intelligent design, or creationism, alongside evolution?
These questions can be answered at this link http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/id/defi-qa.html The movie "EXPELLED: No Intelligence Allowed" is a documentary about how the people promoting ID are claiming to be persecut... more -
Galapagos Now!
The "last paradise on earth" is currently endangered by the very things that may actually save it: economic growth and a deluge of human beings. How can we steward a sustainable society so that the planet's natural heritage doesn't become a cross between Hawaii and Disneyland? The "last paradise on earth" is currently endangered by the very things that may actually save it: economic growth and a del... more
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More Americans Believe in the Devil Than Darwin
A poll found that more Americans believe in a literal Devil than they do in evolution.
Does this make anyone else feel like we're slowly devolving as a country? A poll found that more Americans believe in a literal Devil than they do in evolution. ... more -
Gods and Dinosaurs
Intelligent Design offers itself as an alternative explanation to the theory of evolution. As scientists, theologians, and school boards continue to argue the merit of the idea, Joe Hanson hits the street to street to the bottom of the debate. Intelligent Design offers itself as an alternative explanation to the theory of evolution. As scientists, theologians, and school boa... more
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Designing Dover
The debate over intelligent design being taught alongside the theory of evolution in our public schools rages on in the small community of Dover, PA. A recent lawsuit has been brought against the school board by parents who are angered by the board's apparently religious motivations. The debate over intelligent design being taught alongside the theory of evolution in our public schools rages on in the small communit... more
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Lobster Slaughter
Would you still eat meat if you have to kill it yourself?
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