Why is there a need for this
site? For the simple reason of countering misinformation and a general lack
of knowledge, as explained below. Many people think that the concept of evolution
is complicated and difficult to understand, but this is not the case. It is
simple and based on common sense, and facinating too. This site has been put
together by a concerned citizen (not a scientist) and serves to provide a plain-english
explanation (to other non-scientists). The links have been chosen because they
are easily understandable and very interesting. Click the highlighted words
to follow the links to other sites (there are a lot of them). This is a major
starting point for your exploration of evolution on the web... be prepared to
spend hours in learning and thinking.
The simple truth is that when asked, the vast majority
of Americans will be unable to describe the process by which evolution occurs.
How can the acceptance of this well-established scientific principle take place
when no one knows how it works? Whether people accept the idea, reject it or
are indifferent to it, evolution remains as much a mystery as atomic theory.
Why is this? One answer is that the process by which
evolution occurs became understood just over a century ago, and that information
became widely available to the general public only during this century. Naturally,
acceptance of the fact of evolution has met with some resistance, due to the
existence of long-held beliefs that now seem threatened. But beliefs have withstood
the emergence of many new ideas which initially seemed threatening; such as
the Copernican Revolution, when in 16th century, Polish astronomer Nicholas
Copernicus proposed the idea that the Earth was not the center of the universe.
This idea was later firmly established by Galileo,
Kepler and Newton. This theory was in direct contradiction with what the orthodox
church taught. Faith, if strong enough, can withstand the introduction of knowledge
into our society. (It is interesting to note that the idea of a sun-centered
solar system took several hundred years to be accepted by the public.)
So why is there a general lack of knowledge? The reason
is that, despite the overwhelming support of legal precedents and every major
teaching association,
scientific
organization and even many religious groups, high school science teachers
and textbook producers skirt the issue, for fear of a right-wing backlash. The
concept of evolution is rarely taught in depth (if at all) in our public school
system. When it is taught, a few backward schoolboards have insisted that a
disclaimer be inserted in the front of Biology textbooks! (This practice has
since been judged unconstitutional, and has been banned). The National
Academy of Sciences has called religious influence on local school boards
"the greatest threat to the scientific education of our young people".
When it comes down to it, evolution is a rational, easy
to understand idea, and it represents the truth as we understand it, based on
physical evidence and experiments, and it is supported by every branch of science.
Evolution is the best scientific explanation of our origins. It is a stirring,
compelling discovery, the knowledge of which no one should be denied. This subject
NEEDS TO BE TAUGHT IN EVERY PUBLIC SCHOOL.
1. More organisms are born than can possibly
survive. This provides potential for survival.
2. Offspring are similar, but not identical to their
parents. Every batch of offspring contains a natural range of genetic variation.
There are a variety of reasons for genetic variation.
3. Genetic mutations, most of the time, are either harmful
to an organism or neutral to it. However, there are instances of genetic mutation
that can be beneficial to the survival of an organism.
4. Natural selective pressures (predators, competition
for resources, climate changes, etc.) cause the disproportionately high number
of deaths of organisms that are less-well-adapted to their environment than
other, better-adapted organisms. In this way, beneficial traits are passed on.
Those traits are 'selected' by nature as being more effective for the conditions.
Over millions of years, successive generations of genetic variations (which
give survival enhancements) bring about new species. The original variety of
the species may or may not continue to survive.
5. Even in the absence of selective pressures, genetic
sampling errors in small populations can bring about physical change.
Note: Species evolve-- individual organisms do not. Creatures
don't "change" from one thing into another... they remain as they are born.
One type of animal does not give birth to another-- cows don't give birth to
sheep. Evolution is 'descent with modification'. Organisms do not choose to
evolve-- favorable traits are chosen by the survival of the creature; less efficient
characteristics are eliminated by the deaths of organisms.
For a more complete description of the process, click
the "beginners" button on the navigation bar to your left. It is a fairly complete
description of how evolution works, WRITTEN FOR THE AVERAGE PERSON. Explore
this page thouroughly before coming to a decision. This also includes links
to other topics, like the Second Law of Thermodynamics, the Origin of Life,
and more.
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