Evolution is a sound scientific concept

“The theory that all life comes from random, natural processes.” Hello , Im afraid con has provided a inadequate definition for evolution. This might be a good indication that Con doesn't understand evolution. Chance certainly plays a part in evolution, but this completely ignores the fundamental role of natural selection which is very opposite of chance. Certain randomness, in the form of mutations, provides genetic variation, which is the raw material that natural selection has to work with. Natural selection sorts out certain variations. Those which give greater reproductive success to their possessors (and chance ensures that such beneficial mutations will be inevitable) are kept, and less successful variations Die out. When the environment changes different variations are selected, leading eventually to different species. Harmful mutations die out quicker, so they don't interfere with the process of beneficial mutations accumulating.Nor is abiogenesis (the origin of first life) due purely to chance. But I will be attempting to prove that Evolution is a sound scientific concept we are not debating abiogenesis. Perhaps one from the Oxford Dictionary will suffice as it is a credible source. “evolution” Syllabification: ev·o·lu·tion Pronunciation: /G6;evəG2;loV2;oSHən / “NOUN · 1the process by which different kinds of living organisms are thought to have developed and diversified from earlier forms during the history of the earth. The idea of organic evolution was proposed by some ancient Greek thinkers but was long rejected in Europe as contrary to the literal interpretation of the Bible. Lamarck proposed a theory that organisms became transformed by their efforts to respond to the demands of their environment, but he was unable to explain a mechanism for this. Lyell demonstrated that geological deposits were the cumulative product of slow processes over vast ages. This helped Darwin toward a theory of gradual evolution over a long period by the natural selection of those varieties of an organism slightly better adapted to the environment and hence more likely to produce descendants. Combined with the later discoveries of the cellular and molecular basis of genetics, Darwin’s theory of evolution has, with some modification, become the dominant unifying concept of modern biology” Let’s proceed to my case for how Evolution is a sound scientific concept. Now take note I will not be debating if Evolution is true simply if Evolution is a sound scientific concept. Further definitions. sound 2 (sound) http://www.thefreedictionary.com... adj. sound·er, sound·est 5. a. Based on valid reasoning: a sound observation. b. Free from logical flaws: sound reasoning. Scientific Concept The scientific theory, principal or law that is the basis of your lab. It is an explanation of why and how a specific natural phenomenon occurs or a logical, mathematical statement describing the consistency that applies to the phenomenon. http://labwrite.ncsu.edu... The science of evolution. Evolution is as firmly established as the fact that water is made up of two Hydrogen atoms and one Oxygen At the core of Evolution the idea that life has existed for billions of years and has changed over time through various processes and natural selection Overwhelming evidence supports this. .Observed instances of Evolution Yes scientists have been able to observe Evolution takeing place an excellent example of evolution in action is a 14-year experiment done with Anolis lizards.(Losos et al, 1997) A single species of Anolis lizards was spread across 14 Caribbean islands none of which had any previous lizard populations. Over the time of the experiment, each of the lizards adapted to their environments. Several new species of lizards evolved. The lizards had changed their body shape in response to the flora in their environment. Scientists were able to predict exactly how each lizard population would evolve before seeing the results. Vaccines are constantly changing because, the viruses keep evolving to the vaccines and actually become resistant to them this is called natural selection only the fittest survive.What about new species actually arising from evolution (which is called speciation)? Well, for some plant species can actually arise through evolution, even in as little as one generation. An observation of speciation involving plants, was a study done by Hugo de Vries. He was studying the genetics of Oenothera Lamarckiana, and discovered that a new variant evolved that could not breed with the Oenothera Lamarckiana, and had a different amount of chromosomes. This means, a brand new species evolved, that was observed in a laboratory over long periods of time the new species is named O. gigas.) Even without these direct observations, it would be wrong to say that evolution hasn't been observed. Evidence isn't limited to seeing something happen before your eyes. Evolution makes predictions about what we would expect to see in the fossil record, comparative anatomy, genetic sequences, geographical distribution of species, etc., and these predictions have been verified many times over. The number of observations supporting evolution is overwhelming. Bacterial resistance to antibiotics. Bacteria are able to build up a resistance to antibiotics through evolution. Iin every colony of bacteria, there are few individuals which are naturally resistant to certain antibiotics. This is because of the random mutations. When an antibiotic is applied, the initial innoculation will kill most bacteria, leaving behind only those few cells which happen to have the mutations necessary to resist the antibiotics this is survival of the fittest then resistant bacteria reproduce, forming a new colony where every member is resistant to the antibiotic. This is natural selection in action. The antibiotic is "selecting" for organisms which are resistant, and killing any that are not. Evidence & the fossil record. We have observed the fossil record, and found a succession of organisms that suggest a history of incremental development from one species to another from very simple single celled organisms at first and then new, more complex organisms appearing over time. The characteristics of newer organisms frequently appear to be modified forms of characteristics of older organisms which is indicative of incremental evolution. You cannot examine the fossil record and interpret the evidence as pointing towards anything other but evolution evolution and common descent are the only logically acceptable conclusions that are supported by evidence. Not only is the fossil record a solid piece of evidence suggesting evolution is certainly but it becomes even more convincing when it is combined with other evidence for evolution such as biogeography if evolution is true, we would expect that the fossil record would be in harmony with current biogeography, the phylogenetic tree, and the knowledge of ancient geography suggested by plate tectonics.We find that some finds, such as fossil remains of marsupials in Antarctica are strongly supportive of evolution, given that Antarctica, South America and Australia were once part of the same continent. If evolution did happen, then we would expect that the fossil record would show a succession of organisms as such it appears that the order of development for vertebrate animals was Fish -> amphibians -> reptiles -> mammals.The fossil record should show the same order of development and it shows exactly that. We should also find the fossil record showing characteristics that are intermediate in nature between different organisms that evolved.Birds are most closely related to reptiles, so we can find fossils which show a mix of bird and reptile characteristics. Fossilized organisms that posses intermediate characteristics are called transitional fossils . Prediction Genetic change. Extensive genetic change has been observed. We have seen genomes heritably altered by numerous phenomena, including gene flow, random genetic drift, natural selection, and mutation. Observed mutations have occurred by mobile introns, gene duplications, recombination, transpositions, retroviral insertions (horizontal gene transfer), base substitutions, base deletions, base insertions, and chromosomal rearrangements. Chromosomal rearrangements include genome duplication (e.g. polyploidy), unequal crossing over, inversions, translocations, fissions, fusions, chromosome duplications and chromosome deletions (Futuyma 1998, pp. 267-271, 283-294). Conclusion There are simply no reasons in terms of either philosophy or science to deny the fact that evolution has been occurring for a very long time and is still occurring today, while there is a wellspring of evidence to support that Evolution is a sound scientific concept.Vote Pro.sources. http://www.evolutionfaq.com... http://www.historyofvaccines.org... http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov... http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov... http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov... http://www.talkorigins.org... http://www.agiweb.org... http://en.wikipedia.org... http://en.wikipedia.org... http://www.talkorigins.org... https://www.boundless.com...