MISCONCEPTIONS MISCONCEPTIONS

ABOUT DARWIN’S THEORY OF ABOUT DARWIN’S THEORY OF EVOLUTION.EVOLUTION.

MISCONCEPTION - EVOLUTION IS A MISCONCEPTION - EVOLUTION IS A THEORY ABOUT THE ORIGIN OF THEORY ABOUT THE ORIGIN OF

LIFE.LIFE. Evolutionary theory Evolutionary theory

focuses on how life focuses on how life changed changed afterafter its its origin. It looks at how origin. It looks at how life branched and life branched and diversified regardless diversified regardless of how it started.of how it started.

MISCONCEPTION – EVOLUTION IS LIKE A MISCONCEPTION – EVOLUTION IS LIKE A CLIMB UP A LADDER OF PROGRESS; CLIMB UP A LADDER OF PROGRESS;

ORGANISMS ARE ALWAYS GETTING BETTERORGANISMS ARE ALWAYS GETTING BETTER Natural selection weeds Natural selection weeds

out individuals that are out individuals that are less successful in a less successful in a particular environment, particular environment, but this is always linked but this is always linked to the environment, not to to the environment, not to “getting better” “getting better”

For evolution – an For evolution – an organism just has to be fit organism just has to be fit enough to survive and enough to survive and reproduce in a particular reproduce in a particular environment. environment.

MISCONCEPTIONMISCONCEPTION – EVOLUTION – EVOLUTION MEANS THAT LIFE CHANGED BY MEANS THAT LIFE CHANGED BY

CHANCE. CHANCE. Mutation Mutation isis the ultimate source of variation the ultimate source of variation

and mutation is random. However, natural and mutation is random. However, natural selection which acts on this variation, is selection which acts on this variation, is not a random process. not a random process.

MISCONCEPTION – NATURAL MISCONCEPTION – NATURAL SELECTION INVOLVES ORGANISMS SELECTION INVOLVES ORGANISMS

“TRYING” TO ADAPT.“TRYING” TO ADAPT. Natural selection acts Natural selection acts

on genetic variation in on genetic variation in a population and a population and either an individual either an individual has genes that are has genes that are good enough to good enough to survive and survive and reproduce or it does reproduce or it does not. It can’t get the not. It can’t get the right genes by “trying”right genes by “trying”

MISCONCEPTION – Natural Selection MISCONCEPTION – Natural Selection gives organisms what they “need”.gives organisms what they “need”.

Natural selection simply works on the Natural selection simply works on the variation in a species. It cannot “sense” what variation in a species. It cannot “sense” what a species needs and direct the species.a species needs and direct the species.

NATURAL SELECTION

IS AN EDITOR

MISCONCEPTION – Evolution is “just” MISCONCEPTION – Evolution is “just” a theorya theory

Scientific theories are based on evidence; Scientific theories are based on evidence; they allow us to make predictions and they allow us to make predictions and have been tested in many ways. have been tested in many ways.

A theory in science is a well supported A theory in science is a well supported explanation of some aspect of the natural explanation of some aspect of the natural world. world.

MISCONCEPTION – Evolution is a MISCONCEPTION – Evolution is a theory in crisis and is collapsing as theory in crisis and is collapsing as

scientists lose confidence in it.scientists lose confidence in it. Scientists do not debate about Scientists do not debate about whether whether

evolution took place, rather they argue evolution took place, rather they argue about about howhow it took place. it took place.

MisconceptionMisconception – Gaps in the fossil – Gaps in the fossil record disprove evolution.record disprove evolution.

Evolutionary biologists expect gaps – not Evolutionary biologists expect gaps – not all transitional forms will be found (not all all transitional forms will be found (not all organisms fossilise well and good fossil- organisms fossilise well and good fossil- forming conditions are not always forming conditions are not always common.common.

Often, transitional fossils have been Often, transitional fossils have been predicted although not present at the predicted although not present at the time, and have subsequently been time, and have subsequently been discovered. Eg transitional organisms discovered. Eg transitional organisms between modern birds and their between modern birds and their theropod dinosaur ancestors and theropod dinosaur ancestors and between whales and their terrestrial between whales and their terrestrial mammal ancestors.mammal ancestors.

Misconception – Evolutionary theory is Misconception – Evolutionary theory is incomplete and is currently unable to incomplete and is currently unable to

give a total explanation of life.give a total explanation of life.

Evolutionary science is a work in Evolutionary science is a work in progress. Research continues to add progress. Research continues to add to our knowledge and recent to our knowledge and recent discoveries in molecular genetics discoveries in molecular genetics support the theory. support the theory.

To date, evolution is the only well-supported To date, evolution is the only well-supported

explanation for life’s diversity.explanation for life’s diversity.

MisconceptionMisconception – the theory of – the theory of evolution is flawed, but scientists evolution is flawed, but scientists

won’t admit it.won’t admit it.

Scientists keep their minds open to all Scientists keep their minds open to all possibilities (as long as there is evidence) possibilities (as long as there is evidence) and continue to and continue to refinerefine the theory of the theory of evolution.evolution.

MisconceptionMisconception: Evolution is not a : Evolution is not a science because it is not science because it is not observable or testable. observable or testable.

We cannot go back in time just as astronomers We cannot go back in time just as astronomers cannot visit the stars or chemists look at atoms cannot visit the stars or chemists look at atoms but………..but………..

Fossils give us snapshots of how organisms Fossils give us snapshots of how organisms change over time. change over time.

Studying modern organisms reveals examples of Studying modern organisms reveals examples of evolution.evolution.

Artificial selection in dogs demonstrates Artificial selection in dogs demonstrates microevolution.microevolution.

Lab experiments with fruitflies show the power of Lab experiments with fruitflies show the power of mutation. mutation.

Misconception: most biologists Misconception: most biologists have rejected “Darwinism” have rejected “Darwinism”

Some of Darwins ideas have been Some of Darwins ideas have been modified eg the idea that evolution modified eg the idea that evolution proceeds at a slow gradual pace has proceeds at a slow gradual pace has changed to accommodate the evidence changed to accommodate the evidence that sometimes evolution happens at a that sometimes evolution happens at a relatively rapid pace. relatively rapid pace.

Darwins overall principles are still there – Darwins overall principles are still there – just being added to.just being added to.

And to think that I didn’t even know

about genetics or mutations.

All that support!

Misconception: evolution leads to Misconception: evolution leads to immoral behaviour – if children are immoral behaviour – if children are taught that they are animals, they taught that they are animals, they

will behave like animals.will behave like animals.

What do you think?

Misconception: Evolution and Misconception: Evolution and Religion are incompatible. Religion are incompatible.

Evolution (science) uses natural causes to Evolution (science) uses natural causes to explain natural phenomena.explain natural phenomena.

Religion deals with beliefs that are beyond Religion deals with beliefs that are beyond the natural world. the natural world.

You don’t have to choose between the two You don’t have to choose between the two – they – they areare compatible. compatible.

Misconception: Teachers should Misconception: Teachers should teach “both sides” and let students teach “both sides” and let students

decide for themselves.decide for themselves.

Evolution is a scientific concept – creation Evolution is a scientific concept – creation is a religious belief.is a religious belief.

Teaching creationism alongside evolution Teaching creationism alongside evolution in science is like teaching that babies are in science is like teaching that babies are brought by the stork alongside brought by the stork alongside Reproduction in Human Biology! Reproduction in Human Biology!

There is no scientific evidence to support There is no scientific evidence to support the stork theory – just as there is no the stork theory – just as there is no scientific evidence to support creation. scientific evidence to support creation.