Evolution: How We Know it Happened & Why it Matters (with Dr. Donald Prothero)

THE HOTTEST CULTURAL CONTROVERSY OF 2005 was the Intelligent Design challenge to the theory of evolution, being played out in classrooms and courtrooms across America. The crux of the argument made by proponents of Intelligent Design is that the theory of evolution is in serious trouble. They claim that the evidence for evolution is weak, the gaps in the theory are huge, and that these flaws should be taught to students. In this brilliant synthesis of scientific data and theory, Occidental College geologist, paleontologist, and evolutionary theorist Dr. Donald Prothero will present the best evidence we have that evolution happened, why Darwins theory still matters, and what the real controversies are in evolutionary biology.

Dr. Donald Prothero teaches Physical and Historical Geology, Sedimentary Geology, and Paleontology. His specialties are mammalian paleontology and magnetic stratigraphy of the Cenozoic. His current research focuses on the dating of the climatic changes that occurred between 30 and 40 million years ago, using the technique of magnetic stratigraphy. He is the author of "Evolution of the Earth," "Bringing Fossils to Life," "After the Dinosaurs," "Horns, Tusks, and Flippers: The Evolution of Hoofed Mammals," and the textbook "Sedimentary Geology."

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Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• evolution
• Darwin
• Intelligent Design
• creationism
• biology
• geology
• palaeontology
• stratigraphy
• science
• Donald Prothero
• evolutionary biology
• evolutionary theory

[chansetwo]

I highly recommend Prothero's 2007 book on this subject: Evolution: What The Fossils Say And Why It Matters. Scientists are generally poor at communicating science to the public; that is why pseudoscientific garbage like ID is able to get a hold. We need more scientists like Prothero.

[coolgreyoneabby]

@TeDyBearWantsCuddles Science is the best tool ever developed to unlock the mysteries of how the cosmos works. Yes, Einstein discovered special relativity, but no one has discovered any evidence of any deity yet . There is no evidence for any intelligent design. ID is simply a religious belief system to give religious people a false pseudoscientific reason to justify their belief in God.

[AGrandt]

@AGrandt *ladder

[AGrandt]

With the creationist latter, you just have to draw a stippled line with a new step above the human one, and put a question mark. That step will be humanity 10k years from now.

Humans created God in their own image. Vengeful, bigoted and 'oddly' enough prefer men in power.

[v7DusK]

Great information in this video, although the cameraman clearly had no idea what was going on throughout the seminar.

[maxhardcase]

@chansetwo I second the endorsement for Prothero's book; it is probably the single best reource for understanding the case for evolution as it is attested in the fossil record. For the case from molecular biology, I recommend "The Making of the Fittest: DNA and the Ultimate Forensic Evidence for Evolution" by Sean B. Carroll.

[adwarakanath]

@parasitesarefunny Could you please define Science for us?

[FellOnSoundGarden]

@parasitesarefunny

Where have you studied science? How do you explain vestigial traits like our tailbone, wisdom teeth, appendix(which used to kill 10% of people before 20th century), childhood cancer? How does a creator explain that? How does the simple fact that we have many fossils of different ages spanning billions of years that appear only is in certain times? Weren't all species created on the same day?

[FellOnSoundGarden]

@parasitesarefunny

"They simply have not been found or they are discarded. There are fossilized humans & even pictures of dinosaurs from thousands of years ago drawn by humans.

Furthermore, there are PLENTY of things alive today that have been alive for what Evolutionists claim is millions of years."

LOL

[FellOnSoundGarden]

@parasitesarefunny

What is exactly is macroevolution? What is the difference between macroevolution and microevolution? What makes micro true and macro not? Only people not familiar with biology use these terms, when they really the same exact thing. What is your science education? What evidence do you have to disprove a theory with enormous amounts of evidence and in which EVERY scientist accepts? Looks like you got your scientific knowledge from Ray Comfort.

[coolgreyoneabby]

@parasitesarefunny  You Creationists are a funny lot. Accept science as long as it does not contradict your magic man in the sky creation myths. Next question after your fail on mammals: If the God created the universe as the Bible said and the Galaxy of Andromeda is millions of light years away, (you can look that factoid up yourself) How can you see it with a simple backyard telescope? If the Bible account was correct, the light would not be here yet. DOH! and on and on.