Macro-evolution
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| − | '''Macro-evolution''' | + | '''Macro-evolution''' and '''micro-evolution''' are terms sometimes used in a [[scientific]] context, but more often thrown around by [[creationists]] to get around some of the instances in which [[evolution]] has been observed. "Macro-evolution" means evolution on a large scale, while "micro-evolution" means evolution on a small scale. A common creationist claim is that micro-evolution has been observed, but macro-evolution never has. |
| − | In science, however there is no clear dividing line between the two. To the extent that "micro-evolution" is a recognized term at all, it generally means change within species, while macro-evolution means change between species. Unfortunately for creationists, speciation '''has''' been observed in laboratory conditions -- scientists have successfully induced the evolution of new species that cannot breed with the original strains. | + | In science, however, there is no clear dividing line between the two. To the extent that "micro-evolution" is a recognized term at all, it generally means change within species, while macro-evolution means change between species. Unfortunately for creationists, speciation '''has''' been observed in laboratory conditions -- scientists have successfully induced the evolution of new species that cannot breed with the original strains. |
| − | Creationists weasel around this inconvenient fact by talking about "macro-evolution" not in terms of species but in terms of "kinds." But a kind is not a scientific notion, and creationists are notoriously vague when it comes to defining what it means | + | Creationists weasel around this inconvenient fact by talking about "macro-evolution" not in terms of species but in terms of "kinds." But a kind is not a scientific notion, and creationists are notoriously vague when it comes to defining what it means. |
| − | So creationists cannot agree on what "kind" means -- except in the [[ad hoc]] sense that whenever it can be agreed that evolution is solidly proved between two species, they must not be the same kind.}} | + | * For instance, is a chihuahua the same kind as a Saint Bernard? |
| + | * How about a chihuahua and a dire wolf? | ||
| + | * How about a wolf and a house cat? They're both mammals and both in the carnivora family. | ||
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| + | In science, there is no clear dividing line between kinds beyond species (and even species can be a fuzzy term). So creationists cannot agree on what "kind" means -- except in the [[ad hoc]] sense that whenever it can be agreed that evolution is solidly proved between two species, they must not be the same kind.}} | ||
[[Category: Science]] | [[Category: Science]] | ||
Revision as of 06:58, 19 August 2006
Macro-evolution and micro-evolution are terms sometimes used in a scientific context, but more often thrown around by creationists to get around some of the instances in which evolution has been observed. "Macro-evolution" means evolution on a large scale, while "micro-evolution" means evolution on a small scale. A common creationist claim is that micro-evolution has been observed, but macro-evolution never has.
In science, however, there is no clear dividing line between the two. To the extent that "micro-evolution" is a recognized term at all, it generally means change within species, while macro-evolution means change between species. Unfortunately for creationists, speciation has been observed in laboratory conditions -- scientists have successfully induced the evolution of new species that cannot breed with the original strains.
Creationists weasel around this inconvenient fact by talking about "macro-evolution" not in terms of species but in terms of "kinds." But a kind is not a scientific notion, and creationists are notoriously vague when it comes to defining what it means.
- For instance, is a chihuahua the same kind as a Saint Bernard?
- How about a chihuahua and a dire wolf?
- How about a wolf and a house cat? They're both mammals and both in the carnivora family.
In science, there is no clear dividing line between kinds beyond species (and even species can be a fuzzy term). So creationists cannot agree on what "kind" means -- except in the ad hoc sense that whenever it can be agreed that evolution is solidly proved between two species, they must not be the same kind.}}
