Last Universal Ancestor/Common Descent of ALL species.

This round, per the rules, I will simply present main points under broad categories since the evidence for evolution is so varied and there are so many different avenues that demonstrate evolution and the common decent of all life. As Con indicated in the comments, I also included the basic direction that my rebuttals will likely take. Molecular Evidence This is some of the strongest evidence for evolution and a link for all life to a common single ancestor is seen at the molecular level. This area includes our common DNA and protein functional redundancy where many basic structures are shared and support the most basic functions of life. We can also trace ‘fossilized’ DNA no longer useful and junk DNA strands to link different species and to demonstrate where different forms of life branched off from their ancestors and all future species in the line share these characteristics. Historical Phylogenetic Tree This area is often demonstrated with broad branching trees that originate at a common ancestor branching from a common root culminating in modern species or extinct branches. These start with bacteria and eukaryotes and end with all modern forms of life. Here common decent was largely established based on observable characteristics of species often in the geological fossil records and confirmed, when possible, by genetic evidence. Macro/molecular vestigial characteristics from the past in adults and embryology There are many examples of animals with anatomical vestiges from the past such as whales with hind limbs. There is also a lot of embryological evidence where different developing structures form different features depending on the species. Observed speciation events and key transitional forms There are several observed examples of ‘speciation’ where one species experiences a minor changed that stops interbreeding. From the observed evidence we know that these new species continue to change and develop new features as supported by the fossil record. There are prime examples from the fossil record to demonstrate many of the major lines of evolution and speciation events. Observed changes in animals over time For now, Con has conceded this but then suggested that this stops for some unknown reason within a species. This is akin to saying that you can see how a person could count to 1 thousand but it would not be possible to count to 1 million. There is no reason to suspect that this gradual change stops preventing major changes as observed in the fossil record. “Opportunism and Evolutionary Restraint” This area reveals that new structures form from old structures making rapid changes difficult and certain changes nearly impossible. This is often demonstrated in the lengthy path of certain arteries in a giraffe’s neck that travel through a long loop from the head down to near the chest rather than a straight path of a few inches mimicking previous forms of life with much shorter necks. - Billions of years are required Depending on how the arguments go I will address this issue and establish that the earth is in fact closer to ~ 4.5 billion years then 10,000 and establish the credibility of the many dating methods as this becomes an issue. Irreducible complexity This argument typically amounts to a suggestion that we do not know how some features evolved and are unable to prove this is impossible or improbable. Historically many of these claims have been resolved only to be replaced by new ‘examples’. Some times there is not enough research or interest in these issues since creationists can always find examples for structures that scientists have no clear idea how they evolved. This is often used as a ‘God of the Gaps’ argument for a creator. We are the one species with a particularly high intelligence/civilization Intelligence or civilization is not the goal of evolution and evolution is not a ladder culminating in us. All bacteria, plants and animals have evolved to survive in their niche environments. Intelligence and civilization is one unique adaptation to survive. As Con indicates, intelligence and the ability to make choices has also caused problems such as self destruction. Why are there still monkeys? Humans are still monkeys. We are also eukaryotes, vertebrates and mammals (animals do, in a way, ‘produce after their own kind.’) Some species have remained the same for many millions of years since it takes selection pressure to change a species but monkeys are not one of them. The majority, if not all, monkeys like ourselves have changed dramatically from our ancestors ~ 6 million years ago. “If all species shared one ancestor, there would be many different chains and stages of evolution” I think this is fairly accurate and evolution phylogenetic tree looks like a bush with many evolving pathways leading to dead ends and roughly 99%+ species that have existed are estimated to be extinct. As to the suggestion that there was a global flood I would save that for another debate. If you can tie it to the resolution I will respond. That should do it for now. Thanks to Con for setting up the debate, I’m looking forward to it! [1] http://www.talkorigins.org...