Transcript 8.1 Evolution - WordPress.com

Evolution
The Bible Affirms that God is our Maker (Creator)
Ecclesiastes 12:1 “Remember your Creator in the
days of your youth, before the days of trouble
come…”
The Bible Affirms that God is our Maker (Creator)
Isaiah 43:1 “ But
now, this is
what the Lord
says – he who
created you ….
He who formed
you…”
But we were made through a process.
Did God create you?
Or did your parents make you? (through a Natural process)
What the Bible is telling us is that God still creates
through processes.
God has made
Nature and all its
processes, so in
the past and
today, he creates
and maintains
things through
natural
processes.
How does God Create?
When the Bible refers to God
creating things, this can mean
God making things from
nothing or through processes
that He uses and maintains
(like He creates today through
reproduction). God’s creating
could be instant or over a
period of time though natural
processes.
Evolution: Process Creation With Modification
God has created and continues to create through physical
and biological processes. If evolution is understood as just a
biological process by which organisms change slightly from
generation to generation, then evolution can be seen as a
process used by God to create new slightly changed forms of
life over many generations. Slight changes in a type of
organism over time is commonly referred to as
microevolution. Microevolution is small-scale changes in a
kind of organism over many generations.
The Microevolution of West Coast Stickleback Fish
Earlier than 13,000 years ago in British Columbia, the marine
3 spined stickleback would feed on plankton (microscopic
plants and animals) and smaller fish in ocean waters along
the edges of land. They swam up freshwater rivers and
streams to reproduce. G. aculeatus is from 6-8 cm long.
The Microevolution of West Coast Stickleback Fish
As the glaciers that used to cover British Columbia
completed their melting about 13,000 years ago, the land was
uplifted or rebounded since the weight of the overlying ice
had melted away. This rebounding and uplifting effect
continues to this day.
The Microevolution of West Coast Stickleback Fish
As the land rose, some lakes that were connected by streams
to the ocean were cut off from the ocean. In six British
Columbia lakes (4 on Texada, 1 on Lasqueti and 1 on
Vancouver Island). 3 spined sticklebacks were isolated from
each other and ocean sticklebacks as the land rose.
The Microevolution of West Coast Stickleback Fish
During the past 13,000 years, the single kind of 3 spined
stickleback developed into two different types in each of the
6 lake locations – a smaller, lighter type feeding in the open
waters on plankton and a larger, darker type feeding on
bottom invertebrates like snails, clams and dragonfly
nymphs.
The Microevolution of West Coast Stickleback Fish
Genetic studies have shown that independently in each lake,
the marine 3 spined stickleback has changed into two distinct
species that do not normally interbreed (so remain separate).
This means that from one species (the marine form), six
separate species have evolved. This is an example of
microevolution.
Different meanings for the word, evolution
The word evolution can refer to microevolution but it also has 4
other uses. It can refer to the different forms of a type of organism
that are found in the fossil record (2). Macroevolution or largescale evolution is the idea that all present day life forms have had
common ancestors in the past (3). Evolution can also refer to a
theory of how populations of living things change over many
generations (4). Evolution is also used to describe an atheistic
worldview in which mankind is an accident and there is no
meaning or purpose to existence (5).
The Theory of Evolution and Microevolution
Microevolution is thought to occur through the processes of
random mutation and differential reproductive success.
Differential Reproductive Success
Differential reproductive success means that some
organisms are better suited to their environments which will
enable them to survive better and on average to produce
more offspring as they attract mates more successfully. This
is sometimes referred to as natural selection or survival of
the fittest.
Random Mutation
Sections of DNA called genes in the nuclei of an organism’s cells
control the body features and behaviour of that organism.
Mutations are changes that occur in these genes. Mutations
happen at random at very low but steady rates. Most mutation are
neutral and have no effect. Many mutations are harmful but some
are beneficial. Beneficial mutations help an organism to survive
better and are the basis for changing the features or behaviour of
an organism over time.
Microevolution Visible With Fast-Reproducing Organisms
For organisms with fast reproduction cycles (like bacteria),
microevolution has been observed. Over many generations,
populations of bacteria have become immune to drugs like
penicillin that used to kill them. Mutations in these drug-resistant
bacteria have made them able to survive these drugs. Thus the
microevolution of new strains of bacteria has become a health
hazard for us.
Microevolution of Pesticide Resistant Insects
In a population of insects, different individuals have different
genes. Those individuals with genes resistant to insecticides
survive and reproduce which makes succeeding generations
ever more resistant to chemical poisons.
Microevolution of Herbicide Resistant Weeds
In a population of weeds, some individuals have genes for
herbicide resistance. Continued spraying increases the
number of resistant weeds since they reproduce in greater
numbers.
Cichlid Fish Microevolution
About 3,700 years ago, a bay of Lake Victoria in Africa was
closed by a sandbar creating Lake Nagubago.
Cichlid Fish Microevolution
A number of Cichlid fish were then isolated from their parent
stock in Lake Victoria. Since their separation from the Lake
Victoria Cichlids, the Lake Nagubago Cichlids have
microevolved into five new species differing in coloration and
mating rituals so that they do not interbreed with each other.
Microevolution of Sparrows
Sparrows were introduced by Europeans into North America.
Differences have developed between northern and southern
sparrow populations. Northern Sparrows tend to be larger,
an advantage in cooler weather since it reduces the surface
area to volume ratio which causes less radiation of heat,
helping larger sparrows to survive the cooler temperatures
better.
Domestication: Human Selection Causing Microevolution
Humans have domesticated types of animals and by selective
breeding have produced many different types.
Domestication: Human Selection Causing Microevolution
Humans have domesticated types of animals and by selective
breeding have produced many different types.
Domestication: Human Selection Causing Microevolution
Humans have domesticated types of animals and by selective
breeding have produced many different types.
Domestication: Human Selection Causing Microevolution
Humans have domesticated types of animals and by selective
breeding have produced many different types.
Evolution as “Pattern Of Change Over Time” (2)
Modern species of animals/plants look somewhat like recent
fossils, less like similar species in the distant past. Fossils of a
given type (like reptiles) show a change over time (in higher fossil
layers). This is an observation of the patterns of changes that are
found in the fossils, but does not provide a reason or mechanism
by which these changes might occur.
Example of Horse
Evolution From Fossils
The lowest fossils of horse-like
animals are small with a
number of toes. Moving up the
fossil record, fossil horses are
larger and show a larger
middle toe with smaller side
toes as well as larger molars
for grinding the grasses that
they grazed on.
Example of Camel Evolution From Fossils
Like early horse fossils, the earliest camel fossils (in the
lowest strata) are small and get progressively larger. Their
feet begin with several toes and end up with just two toes.
Evolution as Common Ancestry (3)
When the word, evolution, is used to describe common
ancestry it means that modern forms (like dogs, wolves and
bears) had an earlier common ancestor (Amphicyon major)
and this ancestor had earlier common ancestors with other
groups.
Macroevolution: All Organisms Are Related
If there are common
ancestors for present
day organisms and
these ancestors had
earlier common
ancestors then if a
person goes back far
enough in time, all
living things are related
to each other through
evolution. Common
ancestry is commonly
represented with an
evolutionary tree.
Common Ancestry or Creation Pattern?
Vertebrates all have similar limb bones and fingers. This
would be explained if all mammals developed from common
ancestors or if a common creation pattern was used by God
to specially create each mammal form.
The Theory of Evolution (4)
The modern theory of evolution has to do with populations, not
individual organisms. In a population there is genetic variety due
to different genes and to mutations of these genes in different
individuals. Some genes or gene mutations help organisms to
survive better. Organisms that survive better have a better
chance at reproducing and passing on their beneficial genes.
Over time, a population’s genes change to meet changing survival
challenges. The change in a population’s genes leads to overall
changes in the structures and functions within the population.
Evolutionism (5)
Evolutionism (with a
capital “E”) is a
philosophy or belief
concerning life which
uses the theory of
evolution to support an
atheistic worldview.
Evolutionism claims that
there is no creator, that
humans developed
without any guidance or
governance from God,
that humans have no
higher purpose and that
there is no absolute
moral standard.
Jacque Monod’s Evolutionism
“Chance alone is at
the source of every
innovation, of all
creation in the
biosphere. Pure
chance, absolutely
free but blind, is at the
very root of the
stupendous edifice of
evolution…[These
biological discoveries]
make it impossible to
accept any
system…that assumes
a master plan of
creation.” Jacque
Monod, Chance and
Necessity, 1972
Does Unpredictability Imply Lack of Meaning/Purpose?
Monod implies that the unpredictability of random mutations
and changing environmental conditions means that life is
meaningless, without a plan. But unpredictability does not
imply lack of purpose. The Bible indicates that God governs
unpredictable events from the casting of lots to the weather.
Thus the randomness of mutations and natural selection are
also governed by God and do not rule out a master plan of
creation.
Christians and evolution: Young-Earth Creationists
Most young earth creationists accept microevolution, deny
an ancient earth, reject that the fossil record shows change
over time, reject common ancestry, reject the theory of
evolution and reject Evolutionism.
Christians and
evolution: Progressive
Creationists
Progressive Creationists
accept microevolution,
accept an ancient earth,
accept that the fossil
record shows change
over time, disagree
regarding common
ancestry, reject the
theory of evolution as the
complete explanation for
the origins of organisms
(God intervened
miraculously at various
points) and reject
Evolutionism.
Christians and evolution: Evolutionary Creationists
Evolutionary creationists
accept microevolution
and macroevolution, an
ancient earth, accept that
the fossil record shows a
pattern of change over
time, accept common
ancestry, accept the
theory of evolution as the
scientific model
explaining the origins of
all organisms and reject
Evolutionism. They
believe God used
evolution to create all the
variety of life.
Miracles and Creation
Some Progressive Creationists argue that there ought to be
evidence for God’s miraculous creative action in nature.
Evolutionary Creationists argue that there ought not to be
evidence for miracles in the natural world since this would be
proof of God’s existence which runs counter to man’s freedom
to choose to believe and to the necessity of faith for belief.
Miracles and Creation
The Bible teaches that God is in charge of natural processes
and miracles. God is not a “God filling in the gaps” where we
do not understand. He upholds and governs all things
including a process of evolution IF we can find evidence of
this process occurring in nature. Also, God is not bound to
working only through natural processes. He has performed
and continues to perform miracles.
The Creation Versus Evolution Dilemma
In the past, many Christians thought of Creation and
evolution in terms of a dilemma. Either a person had to
choose Christianity and no evolution or atheism and
evolution. But there are other choices. For instance, a
Christian could believe that God used evolution as a process
to create some or all life forms over time.
End of Presentation
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