Evolution: The ramfications of multiple mutations And the necessity for Informatio.

Unfortunately, it appears my opponent does not properly understand several key facets of evolution. I'll do my best to clear this up as well as provide my own arguments in support of the resolution. Hopefully, by the end of the debate we can arrive at a consensus. ========= REBUTTALS ========= C1 - Irreducible Complexity CON's first argument is based on biochemist Michael Behe's contention that certain organ systems are sufficiently well-matched, with mutually interacting parts performing specific functions in such a way that the removal of any one of the parts would cause the system to cease functioning. [1] Supposedly irreducibly complex systems, such wings or arms, evolve through useful intermediates. This is called the Mullerian Two-Step, named after Nobel Prize winning geneticist H. J. Muller. A feathered animal with no wings may not be able to fly, but the feathers are good for other things, such as insulation or trapping insects. The same could be said of wings without feathers, however they could work for gliding from tree to tree. Each trait evolves independently for different purposes, but they may later become co-opted. The wings and the feathers used in conjunction make sustained flight possible. [2] C2 - Abiogenesis Herein lies the misunderstanding. CON argues that life cannot come from non-living things. This has nothing to do with the process of of evolution, which merely explains changes in the gene pool of a population from generation to generation after life has already been formed. [3] What my opponent alludes to is an unrelated topic called abiogenesis. [4] ========= CASE PRO ========= There is a staggering amount of evidence for evolution, but I will be focusing on two simple, but powerful examples that fit in perfectly with an evolutionary model, but pose serious explanatory problems for Young-Earth Creationists. C1 - Vestigial Structures Many animals have nonfunctioning evolutionary remnants. Snakes have vestigial pelvises. The pelvis is detached from the vertebrae and simply floats in the abdominal cavity, serving no purpose. This fits perfectly with the evolutionary belief that snakes descended from earlier, legged reptiles. Certain beetles have useless wings tucked beneath fused wing covers. Dandelions reproduce without pollination, yet retain both pollen and flower. [5] It's difficult to imagine why an omniscient creator would bother to make such useless structures, yet easy to understand from an evolutionary perspective. C2 - Observed Instances of Speciation Even at low concentration, copper is toxic to many plants. The Yellow Monkey Flower (Mimulus guttatus), however, produced offspring with a tolerance to the metal. When researched attempted to crossbreed the copper resistant flower with the non-copper resistant flower, the offspring was found to be inviable. The two plants were reproductively isolated; two separate species. [6] There have been other cases as well, such as the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. Researchers experimented with exposing different populations to different humidty and temperature conditions. After several generations of isolated breeding, the offspring of the separate populations were found to be sterile in many instances. [7] == CONCLUSION == I've demonstrated my case. The evidence for evolution is unequivocal; it is a fact as well established as gravity. I wish my opponent luck in the ensuing rounds. The resolution is AFFIRMED. -- References -- 1. . http://www.exploreevolution.co.uk... 2. Theobald, Douglas, Ph. D. "The Mullerian Two-Step: Add a part, make it necessary. " 2007. . http://talkorigins.org... 3. . http://dictionary.reference.com... 4. . http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu... 5. Theobald, Douglas, Ph. D. "29+ Evidences for Macroevolution" 2004. . http://www.talkorigins.org... 6. Macnair, M. R. and P. Christie. "Reproductive isolation as a pleiotropic effect of copper tolerance in Mimulus guttatus. " Heredity. 50:295-302. 1983. 7. Kilias, G. , S. N. Alahiotis and M. Delecanos. "A multifactorial investigation of speciation theory using Drosophila melanogaster. " Evolution. 34:730-737. 1980.