Punctuated Equilibrium: the absence of evidence is evidence of absence

Well, first off to educate the reader, here is my summarized definition of the theory, using the information from this site [http://www.pbs.org...]: Punctuated Equilibrium is a hypothesis used to explain the apparent holes in the fossil record. Many have interpreted evolution to be slow and gradual (imagine a river branching off smoothly), however this theory states it is more step-like. An example being the Wolf/Chihuahua one provided by Paradigm_Lost. Rather than seeing hundreds of generations of Chiwawolf, each with a slight change in height and build, it could be witnessed within a handful of generations, each with dramatic and sudden changes. The Wolf births a smaller wolf with less fur, then that one has a smaller one with less fur, larger eyes and a shorter snout, then finally the Chihuahua. Also, the definitions of Macroevolution: evolution on a grand scale (sudden change) [http://evolution.berkeley.edu...] And Micro evolution: evolution on a small scale (tiny, slow changes) [http://evolution.berkeley.edu...] What you seem to be implying is your own doubt on the viability of the theory, yes? Therefore, possibly arguing the only kind of evolution there can be is the slow steady change kind (micro). You are requesting of me to provide reasoning as to how and why PE is a reasonable evolutionary theory. PE is viable because it is so logical. Think about it contemporarily. This Monster Theory has merit. While the pig to fox example is ridiculous, a boar to pig one is not. For instance, it is not altogether absurd to acknowledge that there are births where the infant shows signs of sudden mutations. One example, though a total fluke, is the case of Lakshmi, the girl born with four arms and legs [http://www.news.com.au...] I say fluke because she was conjoined in the womb with a twin sister, not evolutionary. There are other cases however, where people have been born with a non-fusion physical oddity http://english.pravda.ru...]. While many of these cases are simple biological accidents, I'd especially like to point out the 6 fingered girl from the link. She was not conjoined with a twin, unlike Lakshmi, and it is not attributed to a tumor. The reasoning, rather, is that her mother was an alcoholic. Why that triggered the extra finger, I do not know. But, perhaps it was the body reacting to a new environment. The body, unlike the brain, cannot interpret reason, only circumstance. It could interpret the alcohol has an environmental change, and formed the fetus accordingly to fit the situation. How that makes since biologically is not for me to interpret, it just is how it is. But the fact remains that however it is triggered, sudden mutations can occur. One of Evolutions main principals is survival of the fittest. If you can't fit the situation here and now you will die. Humans have done so well because they can make their environments work for them. Animals on the other hand, with lesser developed brains, must work within their own bodies. If an animal were to live in a cold, tundra like climate, its body, naturally, would be made to fit the situation. It would have heat-preserving fur, nostrils to balance internal temperature, etc. But Earth, being the ever-shifting planet, causes that animal's climate to change suddenly into a hot, dessert one. Mother Earth is too impatient to allow that animal to slowly shift into a heat adapted one. She has her own agenda. Thus, it falls on the animal to preserve itself. Its internal biology, recognizing that the current form is overheating, thus constructs the next generation to be more heat tolerant. For the species own preservation, it must change itself. That is the main basis for how PE works. The main goal of life is self-preservation at any cost. Genes want to live forever, no matter what shell they have to like in. If that shell dies they die with it. Mutation is fairly simple. Alter a few hundred DNA strands and you can have an entirely new animal. Students in Montana are experimenting with chicken fetus's, and have found that they can give them teeth and claws [http://www.sciam.com...]. I'm sure you've also heard of the experiment where scientists mixed jellyfish genes with that of a monkey. The result was a monkey that glowed in the dark and had an unusually weak bone structure [http://archives.cnn.com...] The effects, while provoked, where instantaneous. There were no 2nd, 3rd, or 4th generations until you got the result, it happened immediately. The explanation is that the genes were always there, they only needed to be activated to produce the end result. While our scientists may require technology to cause these changes, the body has 24/7 access. It can do whatever it wants with itself, with proper motivation. Climate and environment change is certainly that. So, we can see sudden body structure change is not preposterous. There is certainly enough evidence (earthquakes, Katrina, Global Warming) to show that sudden climate and environment change can occur. Therefore, simply with this information the theory has some merit. But its main purpose for being made is also reason enough. Remember, hypothesis is not fact it is only educated speculation. A problem arose, in this case being "Why are there so many and such large gaps in the fossil record?" This is a simple enough theoretical answer. I certainly don't see it being explained through microevolution. Unless the explanation is simply that the remains of a hundred generations of thousands of specimens from each species leading one animal to change into a differing one were lost entirely to time. If that doesn't sound ridiculous I don't see how something that has already been proven to happen is. Microevolution has been proven to exist. There are always small changes from one generation to the next. Its been proven that humans heights have changed in accordance to where they live [http://en.wikipedia.org...]. Subtle. yet there. Its also been proven that large physical jumps can occur (see reasons/evidence above). However, PE is the best to explain the fossil record gaps. It's highly improbable that if so many specimens of Albertosaurus and T-Rex can be found, but not one of the 'many specimens in between' could not be. Unless at least 1 of every species mapping out (example) Albertosaurus evolution into Tyrannosaur can be found, PE holds more water than the alternative. What better explanation is there? So really, the absence of evidence is how the theory survives in the first place. The only counter I've been able to see is more preposterous of an explanation. So in summary my reasons are 1) Macro Evolution has been proven to occur, ergo, PE is possible. 2) Until every species is found showing micro changes in each, giving proof that slow steady change is the only way to evolve, PE is the better hypothesis. Now, I would like to see your reasoning and rebuttals as to why PE is not viable. So far what you've given is a history on the controversy of the theory, and a statement that you don't believe it. What I need to know is why.