evolution web page

[John Grehan]

I looked up the web page cited by Hugh Wilson and do not see the
conent being any much of an improvment. Much of the web page was
just propaganda, and much of the rest was confusing and convoluted.
If I were looking for a coherent framework I would not find it here.
It seems to be more of the same, and given the cutural/regligious context of
teh US, I don't think its going to make much of a difference.

Much of the scientific content was reduced to assertions or dogma that would
appear to exlcude myself from being an evolutionists. Some selected examples and
comments

(1)  Genetic variation is random

Not all geneticists even agree with this.

(2) based on the sequencing of DNA found in a part of human
cells known as mitochondria-it has been proposed that a small group of
modern humans
evolved in Africa about 150,000 years ago and spread throughout the world,
replacing archaic
populations of Homo sapiens.

This is not the only proposal about the biogeography of human origins, but
no hint is
made of this being the case.

(3) adaptation occurs through natural selection

So if one does not agree with that necessarily being the case perhaps one
would be excluded from teaching evolution? Perhaps books that assert the
contrary should also be banned?

(4) Evolution is the consequence of the interactions of (1) the potential
for a species  to increase its numbers, (2) the genetic variability of
offspring due to mutation and recombination of genes,  (3) a finite supply
of the resources required for life, and (4) the ensuing selection by the
environment o  those offspring better able to survive and leave offspring.

(5) So any other model of evolution does not exist or should not be taught?


(6) For example, students often do not  understand natural selection
because they fail to make a conceptual connection between the occurrence of
new variations in a population and the potential effect of those variations
on the long-term survival ....

Perhaps students cannot make the leap of faith between ecological genetics
and the patterns of evoltuion. If so I could not blame them.

(7) With some help, students can understand that, in general, mutations
occur randomly and are selected because they help some organisms survive
and produce  more offspring.

Yes, if we indoctrinate them properly we can make sure they believe what we
want them to believe, never mind any evolutionary heresies to the contrary.

John Grehan