WRT: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mukto-mona/message/36290

Even though Raihan’s response was aimed to Bonna Ahmed, I would like shed some
light in this thread. Hope Raihan would not mind.



--- In mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com, "Raihan " wrote:

>
>> It is also meaningless to talk about evolution without any
>creation.

Response: Unfortunately 'Creation' is no scientific term. Scientists
prefer 'origin'. According to the theory of evolution
species 'evolved' (or you may say originated), not created. Natural
selection is just blind, blind because this natural process does
not see `ahead', does not plan consequences, has no purpose in
its `mind' and it has no `design' in his view, hence there is a
difference with `creation'. Creation involves a `creator',
evolution does not necessarily so. In 1982, federal judges in USA
and Lusiana tossed out the law in that state, declaring 'creation
science' to be a dogma and not science. Even Dover court last year
gave the simmilar vedict aganist intelligent design, which is
another form of 'creation sceince'.

Scientists are still doing research on 'origin' of life, but not on
creation myths etc. [Most of the] Creation hypotheses (for e.g.
Biblical/Quranic six days creation through a creator) cannot be
tested. Fundamental claim of creationism-that biological diversity
is (or could be) the result of supernatural powers -is not
testable, hence does not fall in the scope of science.





> Raihan: Well, there are still some controversies around based on
>Macro evolution. It may either be for the lack of proper
>understanding of Macro evolution or the lack of sufficient
>evidence. But whatever it is, although the researchers have come
>across with some evidence to establish Macro evolution as a FCAT,
>do you think it is sufficient enough to make a BOLD conclusion? ....
>I am still a skeptic on Macro evolution.

Response: Macroevolution has been tested and observed both in
Laboratory and in nature. Kindly check the following papers (there
are hundreds or papers on similar topic in scientific journals):


Mosquin, T., 1967. "Evidence for autopolyploidy in Epilobium
angustifolium (Onaagraceae)", Evolution 21:713-719

Dobzhansky T, Pavlovsky O, Experimentally created incipient species
of Drosophila, Nature. 1971 Apr 2;230(5292):289-92.

Stanley, S., 1979. Macroevolution: Pattern and Process, San
Francisco, W.H. Freeman and Company. p. 41

Mayr, E., 1970. Populations, Species, and Evolution, Massachusetts,
Harvard University Press. p. 348

Bullini, L and Nascetti, G, 1991, Speciation by Hybridization in
phasmids and other insects, Canadian Journal of Zoology, Volume 68
(8), pages 1747-1760.

Nevo, E., 1991, Evolutionary Theory and process of active speciation
and adaptive radiation in subterranean mole rats, spalax-ehrenbergi
superspecies, in Israel, Evolutionary Biology, Volume 25, pages 1-
125. etc.


I have provided some examples about how scientists `observed'
evolution in front of their eyes using polyploidy and allopolyploid
quantum techniques in plants. I also provided examples of ring
species that convincingly explain the origin of new species in
nature. Recent research on Ubx Gene and Hox Gene was also provided
in my piece by which scientists can demonstrate how a mutation in
the Ubx gene and changes in the corresponding Ubx protein can lead
to a major change in body structure. An illustrated figure was
attached to show a four wing fly was experimentally produced from a
two-wing fly by combining several mutations in the regulatory region
of Ubx gene. And lastly, there are many transitional forms that
show macroevolution has occurred. I also mentioned as a caution that
we should not expect to observe every large changes directly in
front of our eyes. Evolution consists mainly of the accumulation of
small changes over large periods of time. Many concepts such as Big
bang, black hole, spherical earth, rotation of earth, atomic
particles were accepted in science from indirect evidences, not from
direct observations.


>
> (a) "Survival of the FITTEST" Motto: Although Darwin might not
have meant the way it appears to be but it sounds like `might is
right'! This type of Motto is no good for the Humanity that we have
already experienced (Social Darwinism, etc).
>


Response : This is a misconception on evolution (Biologists and Scientists dont
use the term "Darwinsim" because of the misleading connotations associated with
it; Just like no physicists are terrmed as "Newtonists" or "Einsteinists".
Einstein's theory of relativity is a part of physics just as Darwin's theory of
evolution in biology)


Evolution is descriptive how biological species can evolve through
natural selection. It does not tell how they should be interpreted
in society. Darwin did not use the term "survival of the fittest" in
any of his books, nor did he suggest that his theory should be used
in social fields. Here are some links to ponder :

http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/evolphil/social.html
http://www.talkorigins.org/indexcc/CA/CA002.html




> (b) "The Origin of Species": Most of the researchers do not
>highlight the full title (or you can say the second title) of this
>book. The second title is "The Preservation of Favored Races in the
>Struggle for Life". Again, maybe Darwin didn't mean anything
>negative by this statement; however, it sounds like `racism'
>and `might is right' either! Some politicians have misused (?) this
>concept in the past and we all know the results!
>
> Can you please explain what does "The Preservation of Favored
>Races in the Struggle for Life" mean? Is it also applicable to
>Human? If it is, does it then mean "might is right" or something
>else?

Response : Another misconception. The mention of "favoured races" by
Darwin in the subtitle of Origin of Species merely refers to
variations within species which survive to leave more offspring. It
describes the mechanism of biological evolution; it does not imply
racism. Racism is thousands of years older than the theory of
evolution, and its prevalence has probably decreased since Darwin's
day; certainly slavery is much less now. That is the opposite of
what we would expect if evolution promotes racism. Darwin himself
was far less racist than most of his contemporaries. He even fought
with the captain when he was in Beagle because the captain was in
favour of keeping slave. From Darwin's own words :

"I thank God, I shall never again visit a slave-country. To this
day, if I hear a distant scream, it recalls with painful vividness
my feelings, when passing a house near Pernambuco, I heard the most
pitiable moans, and could not but suspect that some poor slave was
being tortured, yet knew that I was as powerless as a child even to
remonstrate… Those who look tenderly at the slave owner, and with a
cold heart at the slave, never seem to put themselves into the
position of the latter;—what a cheerless prospect, with not even a
hope of change! picture to yourself the chance, ever hanging over
you, of your wife and your little children—those objects which
nature urges even the slave to call his own—being torn from you and
sold like beasts to the first bidder!"

Slavery, Racism etc historically have been closely associated with
creationism and `holy' scriptures, we should not forget. The Bible
was widely used to justify the practice of slavery prior to the
Civil War. Both the Old and New Testaments (or even Quran) do not
forbid slavery but actually regulate its practice. Killing
disbelievers, keeping maids and slave girls and even having affairs
was common to those holy figures of religion.

Some related links:
http://www.talkorigins.org/indexcc/CA/CA005.html
http://www.talkorigins.org/indexcc/CA/CA005_1.html
http://pages.britishlibrary.net/charles.darwin/texts/beagle_voyage/be
agle21.html
http://home.austarnet.com.au/stear/aig_and_racism_response.htm
http://www.colorado.edu/philosophy/vstenger/Godless/Values.htm
etc.

Lastly Genetic studies by evolutionists showed that humans are
remarkably homogeneous genetically, so all humans are only one
biological race. All other species are just like cousins. Evolution
does not teach racism; it teaches the very opposite.


Avijit