Biology 100/101
Lecture 27: Evolution and Science

Why teach Evolution?

Evolution is a FACT
AND
and a THEORY

Science as a Way of Knowing
the Natural World

Lecture Syllabus

IB 100/101 Home Page

Why should we study evolution?

• Judgment Day: Intelligent Design on Trial from NOVA on PBS

• Pennsylvania voters oust school board from The Washington Post

• Kansas school board's evolution ruling angers science community [1999] from cnn.com,

• Kansas school board redefines science: New standards question accuracy of evolutionary theory [AND AGAIN 2005] from cnn.com,

• Evolution and Education in the State of Illinois Check out the "Goal 12 - Concepts and Principles" link at the bottom of the page.

Goal 12.A.4c "Describe processes by which organisms change over time using evidence from comparative anatomy and physiology, embryology, the fossil record, genetics and biochemistry."

Goal 12.B.5b Compare and predict how life forms can adapt to changes in the environment by applying concepts of change and constancy (e.g., variations within a population increase the likelihood of survival under new conditions).

• Dealing with Antievolutionism, the importance of keeping the study of evolution in school curricula.

• Eight Significant Court Decisions from National Center for Science Education

• Five Major Misconceptions about Evolution from talkorigins.org (Thanks to Miles for reviewing this web page in Web Crossing)

1. Evolution has never been observed.

2. Evolution violates the 2nd law of thermodynamics.

3. There are no transitional fossils.

4. The theory of evolution says that life originated, and evolution proceeds, by random chance.

5. Evolution is only a theory; it hasn't been proved.

• In the Name of Darwin from PBS Evolution series. An early misuse of Darwin's concept of natural selection to "explain" social inequities and promote eugenics. Thanks to Eric for reviewing this article in Web Crossing.

• Science and Creationism: A View from the National Acadamy of Scinces
  See Especially The Conclusion to this booklet.

• Teaching About Evolution And The Nature Of Science from The National Academy of Sciences

• Pope John Paul II, Truth Cannot Contradict Truth Address to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences October 22, 1996

Evolution as a fact and a theory

Evolution--the process by which the genetic composition of a population changes over time--is a FACT.

• This process is all that is required to produce the diversity and similarity of all life on this planet today.

• Evolution has occurred; it still is occurring; it has been directly observed, documented, demonstrated, and described. Supporting evidence for it is overwhelming (and obtained from a wide range of scientific fields).

The mechanisms by which evolution occurs (e.g., natural selection, mutation, genetic drift) are presented as SCIENTIFIC THEORIES.

• Several theories have been proposed and debated. It is far from clear how evolution proceeds in every detail.

In summary, Darwin established the FACT of evolution, and proposed a THEORY, natural selection, to explain the mechanism of evolution.

Science as a Way of Knowing the Natural World:

• A scientist believes that the natural world is a physical reality, but that we can only construct a conceptual view of that reality based upon observation and experimentation.

• Hypothesis testing...

• The scientist in the crib

• Each of us has our own view of the natural world that is viewed through the lens of our previous experience and knowledge.

• Science strives to be objective, and is founded in the belief that events can be explained fully by natural causes. Conversely, explanations based in supernatural causes are not considered to be scientific. Rocks of Ages: Science and Religion in the Fullness of Life, By Steven Jay Gould

• Scientific explanations of phenomena observed in the natural world are called hypotheses (singular: hypothesis).

• Scientific hypotheses must be testable and falsifiable. If the hypothesis is incorrect it can be tested by experimentation and/or observation and proved to be false.

• Experimentation and observations can increase our confidence that a hypothesis is a correct explanation of a phenomenon, but can never absolutely prove a hypothesis to be true.

• Once a hypothesis has been supported by many experiments and/or observations it is considered by the community of scientists to be a theory. (Note that this is very different from the common use of the word, meaning an opinion or a guess.)

• The conclusions of science are subject to change. New studies, which might utilize new techniques and equipment, may produce new information that leads to the conclusion that previously accepted theories need to be modified or changed entirely.

• Great science is replaced by greater science.

Lecture Evaluation (ICES) for Ed Dole