I've been at a workshop all week on the Chesapeake Bay (it's been good to be on my native Maryland soil because this state is drop-dead gorgeous). The workshop is all about reforming the crappy undergraduate biology education that goes on in this country. It really is crappy. Want evidence of that? Try to explain, REALLY explain the theory of evolution by natural selection including in your explanation the relationship of natural selection to molecular genetics. Now, obviously I don't really expect you to do this but you SHOULD be able to do this because you probably all took an introductory biology course in biology. This is THE fundamental principle of biology and NOBODY (outside of science) understands it. This is why alternative explanations for the diversity of life on earth (ie - creationism) gain traction within the population.
Well, during this week I've been surrounded by 19 other postdocs who all think about very different things than immunity and viruses. Most of them are ecologists and evolutionary biologists. It's been really quite interesting to listen to these people. They think about very different things and their perspectives have been very unique. As part of this workshop, over the next year, we will be developing an introductory level biology course. My group is actually developing a basic biology course, very similar to what you would have taken. Part of that will include a section on genetic inheritance and evolution through natural selection. I volunteered to take that part, not because it's my specialty, but because I find it to be very, very interesting.
So. I'm going to educate you wonderful readers. What you can expect to read here in 2 or 3 days is an intelligent (and correct) rebuttal to the following common misconceptions about/arguments against evolution:
1 - Evolution is just a theory. Ooooh, this one make me want to die inside because it's a complete misunderstanding about science in general.
2 - There are no transitional fossils
3 - If we all evolved from apes, why are there still apes running around?
4 - Natural selection leads to greater complexity
5 - Evolution always promotes the survival of species
6 - Structures that are irreducibly complex could not have developed through a process of natural selection because there would have been no use for intermidiary structures
7 - Evolution violates the 2nd law of thermodynamics
8 - Evolution has never been observed. This is the big one because it's patently false. It HAS been observed, too many times to count.
9 - Evolution means that life changes 'by chance.'
10 - Natural selection involves organisms "trying" to adapt.
You see, these misconceptions stem from a misunderstanding of what the theory of evolution actually says. Because people don't really understand evolutionary theory they are duped by these faulty arguments.
It's gonna be awesome. You'll love it. Especially you Ammon.
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I should thank my biology teachers. I think number 6 is the only one that I would have trouble answering. How behaviors/structures relate and evolve together has always been curious to me.
ReplyDeleteSince I will be reading your next post on my new iPad I doubt that I'm going to care much about your little rant on the misunderstaning of evolution :) Too busy playing Angry Birds :)
ReplyDeleteI guess the iPad is an evolutionary extensions of the iPod. And I am OK with that.
But the rest of you guys...
keep searching for answers little buddy :)
Now, if you want to talk about how I shouldn't be so privileged to have an iPad while people are starving and that every kid in the US should have one. Entitlement and such... I wouldn't mind discussing that :)
Ammon, why do you say 'keep searching for answers little buddy' as if you have all the answers and that a search for greater understanding is foolish?
ReplyDeleteRevelation has told us only so much with relation to the creation. I'll accept revelation as it is received but I am not satisfied that revelation has told us anything about the mechanisms of creation and how diversity of species arises. Unless God decides to reveal those things it is left to science to uncover those secrets. And I think God is pleased when we use our logic and mental capacity to try to figure them out. In fact, I think it would be an affront to God if mankind DIDN'T use logic and reason (gifts given to us by God, after all) to probe the mysteries of his creation. I will continue to search for answers because that is what life is about, isn't it?
Hey, go for it! If you need to know that stuff then I am all for you going after the info! I support my friends in all their individual endeavors. That is what a friend is.
ReplyDeleteI, personally, don't care about the "mechanisms of creation." If it was essential to salvation, God would have revealed it to us. That is all I need to know :)
OK, got my iPad... So where is this big post? Bring on your scientifically "proven" THEORY :)
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