Evolution Can Occur In Less Than 10 Years

Evolution is Just a Theory?

A theory, in the scientific sense, is "a coherent group of general propositions used as principles of explanation for a class of phenomena" [Random House American College Dictionary]. The term does not imply tentativeness or lack of certainty. Generally speaking, scientific theories differ from scientific laws only in that laws can be expressed more tersely. Being a theory implies self-consistency, agreement with observations, and usefulness. (Creationism fails to be a theory mainly because of the last point; it makes few or no specific claims about what we would expect to find, so it can't be used for anything. When it does make falsifiable predictions, they prove to be false.)

of @ Jul 05, 2009 02:56:04 AM

Still a Guppy

As you can see the guppy did not become a frog of any other type of fish. It is still a guppy. Not evolution. The theory is still just that a "theory".

Michael of CA @ Jun 23, 2009 13:23:23 PM

evolution and guppies

Evolution would require genetic change in the improved guppies. Is there objective change to their DNA?

Robb Campbell of MN @ Jun 21, 2009 13:56:22 PM

White moths evolved dark grey and near black

Britsh researchers released a study some years back about white moths evolving to dark grey, and nearly black in color. They sampled the population over a number of years then published the results. When leaded gas was phased out the white moth returned. Many concluded that the darker moths were from adaptation in the species due to birds being able to see the light colored moths against soot covered surfaces leaving the darker moths to reproduce. More light colored moths being eaten encouraged the harder to see darker moths to dominate the genetic pool, far cry from evolving, by the definition of most. Before pointing to something as having evolved, perhaps, one should state the author's definition of evolution in the same article.

Frank Abair of TN @ Jun 19, 2009 10:52:37 AM

Spin doctoring is not science

This is neither evidence for nor against evolution in the sense of creating a new species. You don't know from this data whether they will become a separate species eventually or not. Has the improved living standards and nutrition in most of the world in the last 50 years, which creates larger and fewer offspring, resulted in a new species?

All the so-called arguments presented thus far are mere spin doctoring. Cheney has a job for you, or Bill Clinton if you prefer.

James Fox of PA @ Jun 18, 2009 17:49:01 PM

Natural Selection

Let me start by saying that evolution is obviously real.

However, in the course of 8 years, these fish in low predation environments managed to change themselves by producing less offspring of a larger size. If consciousness or intelligence has nothing to do whatsoever with evolution, than what was the source of this rapid change?

Were these guppies selective about who they chose as their mates? Did the guppy mothers that had more & smaller fish die out while the guppy mothers that had less & larger fish survived? This does not seem logical. It's as if these guppies seem to "know" how to adapt.

Check out Rupert Sheldrake.

Tristeza of TX @ Jun 16, 2009 04:48:03 AM

near death experiences

orrr...you're mind goes through weird chemistry, causing hallucination as you come back to life

tim of TX @ Jun 16, 2009 02:32:18 AM

Mythology dies hard (and slowly)

I know he's really popular...

but God is pretend.

And it's OK to abandon your ancestors guesses at how things work.

Steven Dele of FL @ Jun 15, 2009 20:54:05 PM