Defining Terms - What Is and Is Not Evolution

I talk about the two terms, "Evolution" and "Natural Selection"

So many evolutionists talk like evolution and natural selection are the same thing. Natural selection is a fact—even common sense, but it is not evolution.

Evolution requires the introduction of new traits through increases in genetic information, whereas natural selection effectively reduces the genetic variety in a group of organisms.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• evolution
• natural selection
• education
• defining terms
• genetic information
• six fingers

[BlowDevilUp]

Do you consider it a pity, a sad fact, that you should never ever understand the basics or the complexities of how living systems function? Many curious children would consider it a punishment for it to be withheld them; the knowledge of something so intricate, exciting and wondrous. But you have been poisoned and now inflict the selfsame punishment willingly upon yourself. I consider it a terrible terrible shame. I am sorry for you, and the abuse you've been made to endure.

[forest51690]

@BlowDevilUp

What has evolution to do with understanding how things function? It only explains how they came to be.

[Misterb0z]

Nobody says natural selection is evolution. Not unless they're poorly informed. But it does act to drive evolution. As for 'increases in genetic code', there are innumerable instances of observed insertions, deletions and re-combinations in DNA, as well as gene duplications and frame-shift mutations that lead to entirely new genes. Every part of your body is coded for in your DNA. Therefore every part of your body is potentially subject to change.

[forest51690]

@Misterb0z

Yes copying errors can result in new genes, but junk genes I'm sure. Do they create new features, like how scales, jaws, skin, or hair supposedly evolved?

[Misterb0z]

@forest51690 In short, yes. A gene duplication event will create an essentially redundant gene. But a subsequent mutation will lead to an entirely new protein being produced. Such mutations will lead to the modification of existing structures. No single mutation will lead to an entirely new structure. In any case, the important point is that we are made of proteins, there are no boundaries to where these mutations take a population, short of those imposed by the environment.

[BlowDevilUp]

@forest51690 I'm not going to tell you my answer to your question. In your formulation of the question you have gained an insight into the answer already. The best answers are always a reformulation of the question. Ask yourself the question again tomorrow and over the next few days, see if you have an even better way to examine the problem afterwards. I'm going to be asking myself your insightful query throughout the week too.

There is an antidote, you know.