3 creationism and evolutionism-2012

3.3. Creationism andCreationism and
evolutionismevolutionism
THE NATURAL SELECTIONTHE NATURAL SELECTION

What do you know about it?What do you know about it?
 What will it happen to our tiny toe inWhat will it happen to our tiny toe in
human feet next 500 years?human feet next 500 years?
 Creationism and evolutionism are theyCreationism and evolutionism are they
compatible?compatible?
 Which evidences do you know thatWhich evidences do you know that
organisms have evolved along Earthorganisms have evolved along Earth’’ss
history?history?

The origin of living things
Creationism
We are in the 18th
century and the dominant
ideas in Europe are that living things have
been created as we know them, they are
immutable and don’t change along time
These ideas are based in Jewish and
Christian beliefs taken from the Genesis,
and according to it:
1. The world, and everything on it, was
created in six days and would only be some
6 000 years old
2. God created species as they are now and
they are immutable, they haven’t changed

Two main creationist scientists were LINNEO and CUVIER
Famous Swedish
botanist, he invented
the natural system of
classification and the
binomial nomenclature
Karl Von Linneo (1707-1778)

…Catastrophist Theory, according to
which along time on Earth great
catastrophes had occurred that were
followed by new creations
Father of Paleontology,
due to his observations he
realized that in ancient times
faunae and florae different from
present-days had existed,
which led him to propose the...
Georges Cuvier(1769-1832)

 Can we literally interpret what theCan we literally interpret what the
Bible or other religious books say?Bible or other religious books say?
 Is it necessary to opposite a religiousIs it necessary to opposite a religious
belief to present-day scientificbelief to present-day scientific
theories?theories?
 Creationist ideas can be consideredCreationist ideas can be considered
as scientific theories?as scientific theories?
Three main questionsThree main questions::

Is intelligent design a scientific theoryIs intelligent design a scientific theory??
 How could you explain theHow could you explain the
appearance of so sophisticatedappearance of so sophisticated
mechanisms as a bacterial flagellum?mechanisms as a bacterial flagellum?
The irreducible complexity?The irreducible complexity?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolution_of_the_eye
Eyes have been
formed from
simpler structures
Eyes have been
formed from
simpler structures

Is there a contradiction betweenIs there a contradiction between
religious beliefs and science?religious beliefs and science?
 Modern Theology acceptsModern Theology accepts
cosmobioevolutioncosmobioevolution as an expression ofas an expression of
GodGod’’s creating powers creating power
 It is not necessary for God to beIt is not necessary for God to be
directly present when all creaturesdirectly present when all creatures
appeared and he doesnappeared and he doesn’’t need acting int need acting in
speciallyspecially ““difficultdifficult”” moments like themoments like the
appearance of complex structuresappearance of complex structures
 Accepting GodAccepting God’’s part in creation is as part in creation is a
matter of faith, accepting scientificmatter of faith, accepting scientific
theories is nottheories is not

Harun Yahya and the Creation AtlasHarun Yahya and the Creation Atlas
1. Growing influence of religion (Christianity,
Judaism, Islamism) in world’s vision, specially
after S-11-2001. Return to religious orthodoxy
and backward of secularism. Increasing of social
rejection to evolutionism: 40 % of North-
Americans consider it a completely wrong theory
and accept creationism
2. The fact of evolution cannot be denied, although
there is not a general agreement about the
evolutionary mechanisms. There are no sorts of
scientific creationism. A scientific hypothesis
must be contrasted with facts and observations
that support or reject it, but it cannot be
sustained by the inability of another hypothesis
to explain the facts

Why do they look so alike?Why do they look so alike?

EvolutionismEvolutionism
 Evolution is aEvolution is a FACTFACT
 Theories to explainTheories to explain HOWHOW it hasit has
occurred may be different andoccurred may be different and
theythey’’ve actually changedve actually changed
 LAMARCKISMLAMARCKISM is a theory aboutis a theory about thethe
inheritance of acquired charactersinheritance of acquired characters
 DARWINISMDARWINISM is a theory aboutis a theory about
the natural selectionthe natural selection

The origin of living things
Evolutionism
Creationism was objected by evolutionism, a
new vision that started to spread since the
18th
and mostly during the 19th
century
For evolutionist scientists…
…living things have changed along time from
others that had existed before,...
…and produced new and different species,
more and more complex

EVOLUTIONIST SCIENTISTS : LAMARCK, DARWIN & WALLACE
Jean Baptiste de Monet,
Knight of Lamarck
(1744-1829)
Professor at the Natural History
Museum in Paris. In 1800 he gave a
lecture where he exposed a
coherent theory to explain the
transformation of living things
He admitted the existence of the
evolution of species and tried to give
a rational explanation to it

LAMARCKISMLAMARCKISM
is based on the following ideas:is based on the following ideas:
1.1. The environmentThe environment changeschanges
2.2. Living thingsLiving things need to adaptneed to adapt to these changesto these changes
3.3. In order to adapt, living thingsIn order to adapt, living things use some organsuse some organs
better than othersbetter than others ((use and disuseuse and disuse))
4.4. Organs more frequently usedOrgans more frequently used developdevelop andand
strengthen, and those less usedstrengthen, and those less used atrophyatrophy andand
weakenweaken
5.5. Characters achievedCharacters achieved or lostor lost by living things alongby living things along
their lifetheir life are transferred to their descendantsare transferred to their descendants
((inheritance of acquired charactersinheritance of acquired characters))

According to Lamarck, initially giraffes had a
short neck but they should have stretched it as
they needed to extend it to get food from the
trees leaves and...
…their descendants would have inherited that
feature

Charles Darwin (1809-1882)
In 1831 he enlisted on the survey ship HMS
Beagle as a naturalist without a salary to start
a scientific expedition around the world
In this voyage he made important geological
and biological observations. In 1836, when he
was back in England, he was devoted to gather
his ideas regarding change in species
In 1859 he published his theory “On the Origin
of Species by Means of Natural Selection”. This
book opened a great debate and signified a
major revolution in human thinking
He died on April 19, 1882 and was buried at
Westminster Abbey
Darwin Online

Alfred Russell Wallace
He was born on January 8, 1823 at Usk,
Monmoutshire, Wales. In 1848 he made
an expedition to river Amazon with
Henry Walter Bates, who was also a
naturalist and, from 1854 till 1862, he
commanded the research at the
Malaysian isles. At that time he
formulated his theory of the natural
selection
In 1858 he told his ideas to Darwin, and an astonishing
coincidence occurred, for Darwin himself had already a
manuscript of his own theory of evolution
1823-1913
He died on November 7, 1913 at Broadstone, Dorset,
England

The DARWIN-WALLACE theoryThe DARWIN-WALLACE theory
is based on the following ideasis based on the following ideas::
1.1. Most species reproduce inMost species reproduce in great amountsgreat amounts
2.2. ResourcesResources (food, place, etc.) are(food, place, etc.) are limitedlimited
3.3. Individuals of one species are not alike among them, thereIndividuals of one species are not alike among them, there
is always someis always some variability.variability. SomeSome variationsvariations are transferredare transferred
to the descendantsto the descendants
4.4. TheThe struggle for survivalstruggle for survival: individuals must overcome: individuals must overcome
conditions imposed by environment to surviveconditions imposed by environment to survive
5.5. The most favored surviveThe most favored survive (those that have the best(those that have the best
adaptations to environmental conditions)adaptations to environmental conditions)
6.6. Natural selectionNatural selection (reproduction and survival of the best(reproduction and survival of the best
adapted) causes along generations the accumulation of theadapted) causes along generations the accumulation of the
most favorable features according to the environment. Somost favorable features according to the environment. So
thethe new speciesnew species have originatedhave originated
7.7. TheirTheir descendants inherit the features from the ancestorsdescendants inherit the features from the ancestors

The case of giraffesThe case of giraffes
According to Darwin, in the populations ofAccording to Darwin, in the populations of
giraffes a certain variability existed. Some hadgiraffes a certain variability existed. Some had
a longer neck than others. Individuals with thea longer neck than others. Individuals with the
longest neck would be better adapted andlongest neck would be better adapted and
would have more descendants. Along timewould have more descendants. Along time
there would be more giraffes with a long neckthere would be more giraffes with a long neck

Why haveWhy have stickstick insectsinsects adoptedadopted
the shape of a stickthe shape of a stick??

Why areWhy are nettle leavesnettle leaves stinging?stinging?

According to LamarckismAccording to Lamarckism::
Stick insects have adopted the
shape of a stick to avoid being
seen by predators
Nettle leaves are stinging to
avoid being eaten by herbivores

According to Lamarckism:According to Lamarckism:
 Both the stick insect and the nettle
have their features due to the need of
adaptation to survive
 To avoid predators, stick insects’
ancestors adopted that shape, a new
feature, and transferred it to their
descendants
 We can reason in a similar way for
nettle leaves

According to DarwinismAccording to Darwinism::
 Body shape is an inheritable feature.
Among the ancestors of stick insects there
were some individuals with body shapes
that allowed them to be unnoticed better
than others to predators, what gave them
more chance to survive and have an
offspring
 Generation after generation, natural
selection favored the reproduction and
survival of individuals that better seemed
to a stick
 We can reason in a similar way to explain
the origin of nettle stinging hairs

Precursors of Neo-Darwinism
Limitations of Darwinism:Limitations of Darwinism:
the need to modify the theory of evolutionthe need to modify the theory of evolution
 When Darwin proposed hisWhen Darwin proposed his TheoryTheory
on the Origin of Specieson the Origin of Species by meansby means
ofof Natural Selection,Natural Selection, neitherneither LawsLaws
of Inheritanceof Inheritance nornor mutationsmutations werewere
yet knownyet known
 Because of that, Darwinism had anBecause of that, Darwinism had an
importantimportant contradictioncontradiction in itself, asin itself, as
for the mechanism of evolution wasfor the mechanism of evolution was
natural selection...natural selection...
 ...in this very process, along time,...in this very process, along time,
variability should disappearvariability should disappear, and, and
consequently sooner or laterconsequently sooner or later
evolution would stopevolution would stop

Neo-Darwinism:Neo-Darwinism:
A Synthetic Theory of EvolutionA Synthetic Theory of Evolution
 At the beginning of 20At the beginning of 20thth
century a newcentury a new
theory is stated :theory is stated : Neo-DarwinismNeo-Darwinism oror thethe
Synthetic Theory of EvolutionSynthetic Theory of Evolution includingincluding
DarwinismDarwinism but alsobut also MendelMendel’’s Laws ofs Laws of
InheritanceInheritance and the phenomenon ofand the phenomenon of
mutationsmutations
 This isThis is present-day mostly acceptedpresent-day mostly accepted
theory with new alternativestheory with new alternatives likelike
symbiogenesissymbiogenesis (Margulis) and(Margulis) and
punctuated equilibriumpunctuated equilibrium (Gould)(Gould)

Neo-Darwinism revisitedNeo-Darwinism revisited
 Lynn MargulisLynn Margulis
(symbiogenesis)(symbiogenesis)
 Stephen Jay GouldStephen Jay Gould
(punctuated equilibrium(punctuated equilibrium))

The origin of living things: Neo-Darwinism
This theory is based on the following ideas:
1) Living things undergo some variations due to
random mutations, what produces variability
among individuals of the same species
2) Natural selection acts upon them. The best
adapted individuals survive, have a larger
offspring and their characters spread among
population. The worst adapted have less
descendants and their genes tend to disappear

3) Those progressive changes accumulate along
time and produce changes in populations what
generates new varieties, breeds and species
According to Neo-Darwinism, giraffes
should have evolved as follows:
Among the giraffes’ antecessors, that were
animals with a short neck, mutations
produced some individuals with a longer neck
http://evolutionibus.eresmas.net/neodarwinismo.html

…longer and a shorter neck. Natural
selection acts upon variability
Along time all giraffes will have a longer neck.
Evolution doesn’t stop because mutations ensure
that there will always be some individuals with a...
If this character represents an advantage, the
individuals will reproduce in a greater amount and...
…the number of the long necked will increase

EVOLUTION EVIDENCES
Evolution is nowadays a very well based and settled
theory despite the existence of some
fundamentalist tendencies that, against all
evidences, still defend creationism absurdly and
irrationally
Evidences on which evolution is based are:
• Paleontological evidences
• Morphological evidences
• Biogeographic evidences
• Embryological evidences
• Biochemical evidences

EVOLUTION EVIDENCES
PALEONTOLOGICAL EVIDENCES: INTERMEDIATE FORMS
Some fossils present intermediate features
between groups of living things, what shows us
from which organisms could certain groups of
living things have evolved
For example, the Archaeopteryx, ancestor of birds,
presents intermediate features between birds and reptiles
(feathers, reptile teeth, claws at their wings, ...)

The study of fossils allows us to reconstruct how
the evolutionary process has happened for a
certain organism, and so we are able to know
which changes has experienced one particular
species since its ancestor until its modern aspect
PALEONTOLOGICAL EVIDENCES: PHYLOGENETIC SERIES
At the picture we can see the phylogenetic series for the leg of
equines: a) Hyracotherium (eocene, 50 m.y.). b) Mesohippus
(oligocene, 30 m.y.). c) Merychippus (miocene, 15 m.y.) and
d) Equus (modern horse)

Phylogenetic series for horse and its family, equines , in general
(horses, zebras and donkeys)
PALEONTOLOGICAL EVIDENCES: PHYLOGENETIC SERIES

PALEONTOLOGICAL EVIDENCES:
PHYLOGENETIC SERIES FOR HUMAN SPECIES

PALEONTOLOGICAL EVIDENCES: LIVING FOSSILS
These are organisms that have hardly evolved
and have remained almost changeless along
millions of years. Examples:
Araucaria Coelacanths

MORPHOLOGICAL AND ANATOMICAL EVIDENCES
Based on a comparative study of morphology and anatomy of
living things
We shall distinguish here between homologous and analogous
organs
Analogous are organs with a different origin that have a similar
aspect because they have a similar purpose. For example:
insect’s and bird’s wings. Analogy shows a convergent evolution
by adaptation of different structures to the same environment
or purpose: flying, in the given example
Homologous are organs with the same origin and similar
structures that are different because of their different functions.
For example: a bat’s wing, a horse’s leg, a whale’s fin or the
prehensile extremity of a primate. Homology is explained by a
process of divergent evolution or adaptation of the same
organ to different purposes and environments: flying, running,
swimming or climbing

Example of HOMOLOGY
We can see an example of homologous organs in
anterior extremities of vertebrates: a) human’s
arm, b) feline’s leg, c) whale’s fin, d) bat’s wing

Homology shows an evolutionary relationship, a
common origin where differences are due to a process
of divergent evolution or adaptive radiation. Organs
have a very different function but possess the same
structures, the same bones
Organs are very different in their function but they
have the same structures, the same bones

An example of ANALOGY:
sharks, swordfishes, ichthyosaurs
(fossil reptiles) and dolphins have
a similar shape
This fact in not the result of a
common origin neither a
relationship, it can only be
explained by an adaptation
process...

…to the same aquatic
environment, made by very
different living things (a
cartilaginous fish, a bone fish,
a reptile and a mammal)
It is then a case of
analogy that shows a
convergent evolution or
adaptive convergence

Circulatory Apparatus in Vertebrates
FISHES AMPHIBIANS REPTILES BIRDS AND MAMMALS

VESTIGIAL ORGANS
They are atrophied organs, without any function at
present, that reveal the existence of ancestors for
whom these organs were necessary
We find a good example at the rests of the whales’
posterior extremities, what reveals...
...their past as quadrupeds

BIOGEOGRAPHIC EVIDENCES OF EVOLUTION
One of the most demonstrative proves or evidences
of evolution is the geographic distribution of a series of
large birds
http://www.damisela.com/zoo/ave/ratities/index.htm

The existence of African ostrich, South-American Greater
Rhea and Australian cassowary and emu can only be
explained by means of the theories of evolution and plate
tectonics

Hypothetical continent that, at the
end of the primary period, gathered
in only one bloc all the lands that
constitute at present Australia, S and
SW Asia, Madagascar, Africa, South-
America (northern part) and
Antarctica
At the north, a different continent
was formed, named as Laurasia,
including North-America, Europe and
north of Asia
GONDWANA

1. Some 100 million years ago, a
common ancestor to these birds
developed and spread out all over
Gondwana. That is the reason why
there are not running birds in
Laurasia, the northern continent
2. When Gondwana split the different
populations of birds remained isolated
and evolved separately what
produced different species
Explanation of the geographic distribution of giant running birds

EMBRIOLOGICAL EVIDENCES OF EVOLUTION
They are based in the study of embryonic development of
living things. Those species with a greater evolutionary
relationship show more similarities in the processes of
embryonic development. Similarities in the first stages of
embryonic development in vertebrates show the existence
of a common ancestor, as we can see in this picture:

BIOCHEMICAL EVIDENCES OF EVOLUTION
One of the most important
evidences is based in a molecular
level similarity between proteins
or DNA from different organisms.
This similarity is the more
relevant when...
…the more the evolutionary
relationship is between
them
Compared species Differences in
DNA (%)
Man-Gorilla 1.4
Man-Chimpanzee 1.2
Gorilla-Chimpanzee 1.2
Man-Orang-utan 2.4
Gorilla-Orang-utan 2.4
Chimpanzee-
Orang-utan
1.8
Differences in DNA between pongids
and human species

Similarities and differences also appear at the
protein level. The table shows the percentage
of agglutination produced when we mix in a
test tube bloody plasma from different
animals and antibodies against proteins from
human bloody serum, taken from rabbits that
have been injected human serum. We
conclude that...
Species %
Agglutination
Man 100
Chimpanzee 85
Gorilla 54
Orang-utan 42
Baboon 29
Ox 10
Deer 7
Horse 2
Marsupial 0
…the higher the percentage of agglutination
…the higher the similarity between animal
and human proteins...
...what measures the degree of evolutionary
relationship
BIOCHEMICAL EVIDENCES OF EVOLUTION

HOW DO NEW SPECIES APPEAR?
Varieties appearance: the example of Biston betularia
Biston betularia is a butterfly that feeds a
lot of bird species. Until 1850 in England
there was only the clear variety, a color
similar to that of the bark of trees on
which it used to stop
Since 1850 on, with the industrial
development and the rapid growth of
factories, the dark variety started to be
the most plentiful in industrial zones,
while in agricultural zones...
…the most plentiful is still the
clearer variety!!!

Explanation
If trees are not contaminated, their bark has a clear tonality. In this case the best
adapted variety is the clear variety, for it is hardly seen by birds. The few dark
individuals originated by mutation...
...are easily detected by birds that eat them and...
…consequently, leave NO offspring

Contamination lets lichens die and the bark of trees becomes darker. Thus dark
individuals appeared by mutation are more difficult to see, so they are NOT
detected. Clear individuals, worse adapted, undergo the effects of
depredation. Under theses conditions...
...there will be along time…
…MORE AND MORE....
…dark individuals

HOW DO BREEDS APPEAR?
If different populations of individuals of the same species
undergo variations that make them different, because of
remoteness or other reasons, there will appear...
...breeds of the same species. Individuals from different breeds...
…CAN REPRODUCE BETWEEN THEM

CONCEPT OF SPECIES
A whole of individuals that
belong to natural
populations able to
reproduce between them
and give a fertile offspring
Sometimes it may happen
that individuals of different
species may reproduce
between them (a horse and a
donkey) but their
young(mule) are sterile

HOW NEW SPECIES ARE PRODUCED?
The appearance of new species requires the existence of changes
in genetic features of the population and that origins a different
individuals’ population but, besides that,
…an isolation must occur to make impossible that new features...
…be transmitted to individuals from other populations
But, how can such an isolation happen?

The main forms of isolation are:
a) Geographic : populations become
isolated by geographic accidents like
seas, rivers, deserts,...
b) Reproductive : although individuals
remain in the same territory, genetic
variations produced by mutations can
obstruct to a group of individuals from
the original population to reproduce
with the rest and produce a
reproductive isolation that will origin
in time a new species

APPEARANCE OF SPECIES BY GEOGRAPHIC ISOLATION
Distribution of different breeds
of the same species in African
continent. In zones where there
are some populations that have
been isolated speciation can
happen
Isolated zones where
speciation can happen
Non isolated zones
that can produce
different varieties or
breeds but not
different species,
because there is a
genetic relationship

SCHEME OF SPECIATION BY ISOLATION
1) An original population (a) disperses
along a wide territory
2) Thus, different populations are
originated on which genetic differences
produced by mutations can make new
varieties or breeds to appear (a1, a2, a3, a4)
3) One of the breeds (a3) may become
isolated by a geographic barrier (for
example) and...
...along time genetic differences can produce a reproductive
isolation and the appearance of a brand-new species (b1)

Is evolution a matter of faith?Is evolution a matter of faith?
1. It is not a matter of faith. Evolution
is a fact based in numerous proofs
2. At the final part of the unit we have
given a lot of proofs of different
kinds that can only be explained by
evolution as a fact: paleontological,
morphological and anatomical,
biogeographic, embryological and
biochemical proofs or, even better,
scientific evidences

To learn moreTo learn more
 http://evolution.berkeley.edu/http://evolution.berkeley.edu/
 http://bioinformatica.uab.es/divulgacio/evol.htmlhttp://bioinformatica.uab.es/divulgacio/evol.html
 http://www.aboutdarwin.com/http://www.aboutdarwin.com/
 SAMPEDRO, Javier.SAMPEDRO, Javier. Deconstruyendo a Darwin: losDeconstruyendo a Darwin: los
enigmas de la evolución a la luz de la nuevaenigmas de la evolución a la luz de la nueva
genética.genética. Barcelona: Crítica, 2007Barcelona: Crítica, 2007
 AYALA, Francisco.AYALA, Francisco. Darwin y el diseño inteligente:Darwin y el diseño inteligente:
creacionismo, cristianismo y evolución.creacionismo, cristianismo y evolución. Madrid:Madrid:
Alianza Editorial, 2007Alianza Editorial, 2007
 DAWKINS, Richard.DAWKINS, Richard. El espejismo de Dios.El espejismo de Dios. Madrid:Madrid:
Espasa Calpe, 2007Espasa Calpe, 2007
 SCHMITZ-MOORMANN, Karl.SCHMITZ-MOORMANN, Karl. Teología de laTeología de la
creación de un mundo en evolución.creación de un mundo en evolución. Estella:Estella:
Editorial Verbo Divino, 2005Editorial Verbo Divino, 2005

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