Harmageddon
Member
All the data so far seems to point to a direction of random mutations + selection that exerts pressure on all species (the harsh fight for survival) that together lead to evolution. The fact that life seems to ever improve and increase in complexity is a natural cause of this process. As is the fact that viruses ( the most primitive, yet most efficient lifeform) and all other species - fish, birds, slugs, apes and whatnot - between viruses and humans (another very efficient lifeform) may exist side by side with us.
With our increasing knowledge about DNA transcriptional/translational mechanisms, and a limited yet in another sense extensive fossil record we see forms that fit this description were alive in the past. Efficient creatures, like the trilobite, the more complex but equally efficient dinosaurs and from the ice ages, efficient creatures such as the woolly rhino and mammoth and the sabre-tooth tiger (with fangs large enough to kill these thick skinned herbivores).
This process can be explained by the theory of evolution: random mutations in the DNA transcriptional/translational mechanisms acted upon by natural selection - that drives for survival of the most efficient.
This is why all life is perfectly adapted to its role.
Perfection has many faces, as can be observed by the sheer number of species on this planet.
Those species that aren't near perfect, do not live long.
They do not grow into large numbers - they do not fossilize.
This is why the truly transitional shapes that you require are not yet - if ever - found. Yet from the broken puzzle with many missing pieces, a picture of the tree of life has been made. And it shows common ancestors for all life.
Intelligence
In this process, selection is the driving force. Selection may be driven by sexual preferences within a species, by pressure from predators that start getting more perfect at killing you, by climate changes, or viral infections.
You might feel tempted to equal GOD to selection - since GOD may be said to be driven by different impulses, and GOD is then the driving force behind this strive to perfection we observe in all lifeforms.
This would however sharply contrast the Bible, since that says that GODs creation of the universe, of earth and of all life, is already perfect. Life needs not evolve anymore. Yet it does.
With our increasing knowledge about DNA transcriptional/translational mechanisms, and a limited yet in another sense extensive fossil record we see forms that fit this description were alive in the past. Efficient creatures, like the trilobite, the more complex but equally efficient dinosaurs and from the ice ages, efficient creatures such as the woolly rhino and mammoth and the sabre-tooth tiger (with fangs large enough to kill these thick skinned herbivores).
This process can be explained by the theory of evolution: random mutations in the DNA transcriptional/translational mechanisms acted upon by natural selection - that drives for survival of the most efficient.
This is why all life is perfectly adapted to its role.
Perfection has many faces, as can be observed by the sheer number of species on this planet.
Those species that aren't near perfect, do not live long.
They do not grow into large numbers - they do not fossilize.
This is why the truly transitional shapes that you require are not yet - if ever - found. Yet from the broken puzzle with many missing pieces, a picture of the tree of life has been made. And it shows common ancestors for all life.
Intelligence
In this process, selection is the driving force. Selection may be driven by sexual preferences within a species, by pressure from predators that start getting more perfect at killing you, by climate changes, or viral infections.
You might feel tempted to equal GOD to selection - since GOD may be said to be driven by different impulses, and GOD is then the driving force behind this strive to perfection we observe in all lifeforms.
This would however sharply contrast the Bible, since that says that GODs creation of the universe, of earth and of all life, is already perfect. Life needs not evolve anymore. Yet it does.