

Liaoconodon hui  (Source: Jin Meng)










This study was published in Nature.

Comments     Threshold


RE: Why Bother?
By Reclaimer77 on 4/18/2011 10:16:00 PM , Rating: -1
The gaps are filling in. Isn't that worth covering?

I'm not religious and I DO believe in Evolution.

However I do not believe in this kind of macro-evolutionist crap. Sorry but lizards don't eventually become men through a long series of changes (yes, I'm purposely oversimplifying the process to save typing, don't freak out). I don't care what kind of ear bones it has, that kind of evolutionary leap defies belief. Not to mention it's a theory with no proof, just circumstantial evidence.

RE: Why Bother?
By JonnyDough on 4/19/2011 12:54:37 AM , Rating: 1
Radioactive material doesn't become inert over long periods of time either. I think I'm seeing a trend seem to believe that the universe is static and not dynamic. I believe you are limiting yourself by not considering infinite possibilities in an unlimited universe.

Those who believe in God I ask this:

Why is it so hard to believe in an endless, timeless universe? Why do you feel compelled to believe in an endless timeless God with all the knowledge to create such a universe? Is that not just adding an additional and absolutely unprovable/illogically theorized complex layer on top of what we already see as truth? The universe exists. We both take that as fact. God exists, you rely on "belief, faith, emotion" and you take that as fact.

Which do we both concur on? It must be true. The universe exists.

So if we take that as a truth, then we must believe that within the universe there can come "intelligence" (ie creation, such as the birth of more humans) but can intelligence (ie creation) create a universe out of nothingness? Seems to be a farther stretch of my imagination...perhaps you and your God have powers that the average limited man doesn't have.

Why humans believe themselves to be some sort of demigods rather than animals I do not know. We are made of earth, and we rely on it for survival. If only more people realized we are not "above" nature. Last time I checked, a polar bear could eat things that you couldn't, survive places you couldn't, and kick your ass in a fist fight. So you have centuries of learning that you can borrow from and hold a gun in your hand. Big whoop. Human beings are not superior nature. They merely have a superior ability. It's time we start to understand that.

RE: Why Bother?
By Reclaimer77 on 4/19/11, Rating: 0
RE: Why Bother?

RE: Why Bother?
By safcman84 on 4/19/2011 4:45:11 AM , Rating: 2
What kind of evolution do you believe in then?

single cell life --> multi-cellular life --> diversify into the hundreds of different plants and animals you see today through evolution.

Maybe I misunderstood you but:
Mammals evolved from something, why cant it be from a reptile? it is not a evolutionary leap, but gradual evolution from reptile to mammal, it only seems to be a "leap" as not every single process in the evolution from reptile to mammal has found in the fossil record, so we have gaps and missing links. this fossil fills one of the gaps in, but not all of them -> the remaining gaps make it look like a leap, but that is far from the case.

RE: Why Bother?
By Reclaimer77 on 4/19/11, Rating: 0
RE: Why Bother?
By Paj on 4/19/2011 8:32:10 AM , Rating: 1
How can you believe in evolution, yet deny macroevolution? All youre doing is demonstrating your lack of knowledge.

Why do humans have a tailbone? Wisdom teeth, that can cause pain and death if not removed? Seems like an oversight at best, a poor design at worst. Furthermore, why do dolphins and whales have lungs if they live in the water? Who would design an animal in this way?

Isn't it possible that two species can have the same type of ear bones WITHOUT being related to each other? Is there any other evidence besides the ear bones that we're looking at a distant relative here?

Yes, it is. Its called convergent evolution, where the same biological trait is acquired in unrelated lineages. ie wovles and the (now extinct) Tasmainian Tiger share many common characteristics, despite being unrelated biologically or genetically.

RE: Why Bother?
By Reclaimer77 on 4/19/11, Rating: 0
RE: Why Bother?
By Fritzr on 4/19/2011 7:51:14 PM , Rating: 2
Quite easily. I don't. Our thoughts shape the universe, do they not? It always matters what we think.

If you believe that thinking beings created modern humans by shaping the universe with their thoughts, then yes I would include you with the Flat Earthers who deny that ships disappear over the horizon as they sail away.
This is still a very health debate on macro evolution in scientific circles, so please don't pretend that I'm some wacko claiming the Earth is flat.

If you actually read the article you would know that the discovery documents support of your theory of gradual change.

RE: Why Bother?
By Reclaimer77 on 4/19/2011 9:47:07 PM , Rating: 2

Not exactly what I meant, and I think you know that. But okay, moving on...


Then hoooray. Go me!

RE: Why Bother?
By Fritzr on 4/19/2011 7:45:48 PM , Rating: 2
I believe in micro evolution. That a species can adapt etc etc, you know the deal.

I do NOT believe that frogs can become dogs, or dogs can become man. I do not believe in macro evolution. Also this crackpot theory about how all the dinosaurs "evolved" into birds and one of those birds became a primate and that primate became, eventually, man....I mean, give me a break. You really buy that crap?

So you believe that all canines evolved from earlier canine variants, horses, zebras etc. evolved from earlier equine variants, alligaors, crocodiles, gavials etc. evolved from earlier crocodilian variants.

Extending this argument to it's logical conclusion, you end up with intelligent design and dinosaurs sharing the planet with apes. This occurs because simple precellular life cannot evolve into single cell life, single cell life evolve into simple multicellular life, simple multicellular life into complex multicellular life, different lineages of multicellular life branching into multiple unique and seemingly unrelated life.

In short your theory requires that the primordial earth be populated by "advanced" life forms that were spontaneously created. Note this is not intelligent design, but simply "Spontaneous Creation" of "higher" life forms directly out of the chemical broth that covered the early Earth.

These various lineages then had to survive ALL the disasters and climate changes that have occurred during the subsequent history of the Earth.

Applying Occam's Razor to the logical consequences of your theory lends credence to evolution generating what appear to be major leaps in form and function.

This article documents the discovery of physical evidence of one of the gradual changes that your theory requires, so I do not understand why you are objecting to an interpretation of the discovery that lends support to your beliefs.

RE: Why Bother?
By PaterPelligrino on 4/20/2011 12:26:17 PM , Rating: 1
I'm not religious and I DO believe in Evolution.


Forgive me if I doubt your assertion that you are not religious, that you reject macro-evolution simply because it doesn't make sense to you. In my experience, those who reject evolution are almost always biblical literalists - though, for obvious reasons, some are reluctant to admit it in online discussions about evolution. However, the biblical literalist doesn't reject evolution because he disagrees with the science, he rejects it out of hand to safeguard his religious beliefs.

But let's take your statement at face value. So if you are not religious - which means you do not accept the creationist explanation for the existence of life - how do you explain the existence of all the distinct species that have ever existed on earth?

If life hasn't divine origins, there must be a scientific explanation for how it arose. What possible non-divine explanation could account for the existence of so many different species that doesn't involve evolution from a common origin? Many creatures alive today clearly weren't here in the remote past; where did they come from? Did the horse and Homo Sap just one day pop into existence without any precedents?

I'm not aware of a competing non-religious explanation for the origin of species, so I'm looking forward to your reply.

