RE: [asa] (testing evolution) TE/EC Response - ideology according to Terry

Many of us have often said that evolutionary theory is more akin to forensic science than to experimental science. Recall that for all the data that was presented in the O.J. Simpson trial, the jury did reach the wrong verdict. This may also be the case for those investigating the past with regard to the question of origins. In forensic science, one supposes a scenario and attempts to prove it with extant physical data. People have to recognize the true nature of evolutionary theory and stop comparing it to theories that are used in the experimental sciences.

Moorad
________________________________________
From: asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu [asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu] On Behalf Of Iain Strachan [igd.strachan@gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, July 20, 2009 1:43 PM
To: Dehler, Bernie
Cc: ASA
Subject: Re: [asa] (testing evolution) TE/EC Response - ideology according to Terry

On Mon, Jul 20, 2009 at 6:17 PM, Dehler, Bernie<bernie.dehler@intel.com> wrote:
> Moorad said:
> "For one, we can make all sorts of predictions in our theory of gravitation and test them experimentally, witness Apollo 11, whereas the same cannot be said of evolution."
>
> I think this is false. We can test evolutionary theory. A macroevolutionary hypothesis is that man descended from an apelike creature. Can it be disproven? Yes. Rather than running experiments, instead data is collected. Genomic studies. Data falls in line with evolutionary theory, and helps define/refine evolutionary theory. Data also disproves creation of human by fiat or any kind of sudden, non-descent (YEC/OEC idea of human creation).

No it doesn't. Or at least your favoured chromosome fusion example
doesn't. Now before you have a go at me about what I believe, I'll
state right at the start that I believe in the reasonable hypothesis
that apes and humans are descended from an ape-like ancestor that had
48 chromosomes. I imagine it's possible to date (using genetic drift)
the time in history when the fusion occurred and that will verify it
was before humans came along. But I believe in long time-scales;
YEC's don't.

However, as we have seen from Dennis's explanation and the quote from
Darryl Falk, it seems the chromosome fusion is no big deal - it is a
microevolutionary step in itself that doesn't change the genetic
material. A heterozygous 47 chromosome (23+24) individual can mate
perfectly well with a 48 or a 46, and meiotic drive ensures the 46
individuals eventually take over the population.

Hence, a YEC could well argue that man and apes were created
separately, and the humans originally had 48 chromosomes.

You'll need a lot more than evidence of a chromosome fusion to
disprove that assertion.

Iain

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Received on Tue Jul 21 11:54:08 2009