What Evolution is What Evolution is NOTNOT!!

It is NOT a fact…It is NOT a fact…

(it’s a theory: a highly (it’s a theory: a highly probable explanation probable explanation affecting all biological affecting all biological phenomena, with much phenomena, with much supporting evidence, and NO supporting evidence, and NO evidence against it)evidence against it)

It is NOT something one It is NOT something one should believe in…should believe in…

(it’s based on science, not (it’s based on science, not faith)faith)

It is NOT just concerned with It is NOT just concerned with the origin of humans…the origin of humans…

(no more nor less than any (no more nor less than any other species)other species)

It was NOT discovered or first It was NOT discovered or first explained by Charles explained by Charles Darwin…Darwin…

(many other people proposed (many other people proposed the general idea long before the general idea long before Darwin did)Darwin did)

It is NOT the same as natural It is NOT the same as natural selection…selection…

(natural selection deals with (natural selection deals with how evolution can take place; how evolution can take place; this idea was first proposed this idea was first proposed by Charles Darwin)by Charles Darwin)

It is NOT something which It is NOT something which happened only in the past…happened only in the past…

(it’s still going on…)(it’s still going on…)

It is NOT something which It is NOT something which happens to individuals…happens to individuals…

(it happens to popultions)(it happens to popultions)

It is NOT an accidental It is NOT an accidental random process…random process…

(there are built-in limits and (there are built-in limits and constraints; it is influenced by constraints; it is influenced by both historical circumstances both historical circumstances and environmental factors)and environmental factors)

It was NOT developed to It was NOT developed to undermine religion…undermine religion…

(rather it was developed to (rather it was developed to explain observations of life in explain observations of life in a testable way. In fact, it a testable way. In fact, it grew out of efforts to better grew out of efforts to better understand God’s creation, understand God’s creation, by very religious people)by very religious people)

It does NOT deny the It does NOT deny the existence of God…existence of God…

(It is neutral; God is neither (It is neutral; God is neither required nor eliminated, your required nor eliminated, your choice, based on your beliefs)choice, based on your beliefs)

It does NOT conflict with any It does NOT conflict with any religion…religion…(It can’t, since it is only (It can’t, since it is only another way of trying to another way of trying to understand the natural world understand the natural world using the rules of science. using the rules of science. Any apparent conflict can Any apparent conflict can always be traced to always be traced to misunderstanding of science, misunderstanding of science, evolution or your religion)evolution or your religion)

What Evolution Is!What Evolution Is!

Evolution is essentially the Evolution is essentially the idea that new species idea that new species develop from earlier species develop from earlier species by accumulated changes. by accumulated changes. This is sometimes referred to This is sometimes referred to as “descent with as “descent with modification”modification”

By extensions, as this process By extensions, as this process of speciation proceeds with of speciation proceeds with time, increasing numbers of time, increasing numbers of species appear, becoming species appear, becoming increasingly different.increasingly different.

All the species we see today All the species we see today are like the growing tips of a are like the growing tips of a branching tree: close cluster branching tree: close cluster of tips have most recently of tips have most recently branched (evolved); more branched (evolved); more distant tips must be traced to distant tips must be traced to much lower (earlier) much lower (earlier) branching in the tree.branching in the tree.

What we call a “genus” would What we call a “genus” would be a close cluster of tips. The be a close cluster of tips. The “family” level of classification “family” level of classification (which may include several (which may include several genera) refers to a group of genera) refers to a group of several closely branched several closely branched clusters. And so on.clusters. And so on.

The idea of evolution was The idea of evolution was developed from many developed from many observations of life. It has observations of life. It has been tested and challenged been tested and challenged many times and in many many times and in many ways, and has survived in ways, and has survived in great shape.great shape.

There are also many There are also many independent lines of evidence independent lines of evidence which are consistent with which are consistent with evolution as a real process.evolution as a real process.

There is NO observed There is NO observed evidence against evolution. evidence against evolution. Evolution therefore holds the Evolution therefore holds the high status of near certainty: high status of near certainty: it is a scientific theory.it is a scientific theory.