I went to the BBC site looking at the latest science news for something to post on this Is Evolution A Theory site.
I found myself at: Quiz: Test your knowledge of evolution (click quiz). Yeah, I would like to test my evolution knowledge. So why not test my knowledge of evolution?
So I missed the first question. “Dang.” said Harry.
Then I missed the second question. “Double Dang.” said Harry. But I really thought I had this second question right. Here it is:
Evolution can only happen slowly, over long periods of time. True or false?
- False
- True
FALSE: Almost everything changes a little over time as genes mutate. Evolution can happen over a time scale of thousands or millions of years, but that’s not always the case. For instance, there’s been a rapid rise in antibiotic resistance among bacteria. The first bacterium resistant to penicillin was found a few years after the drug started to be used on a large scale.
So I went and researched the second question to determine if evolution scientists believe in gradualism or punctuated equilibrium. I found this great explanation on the difference between the two at New England Complex Systems Institute (NECSI). See the Gradualism and Punctuated Equilibrium article here.
Then I started asking questions about this issue as I read the article. Only to find NECSI posed a great question:
“How did the tiger get its stripes: gradualism or punctuated equilibrium?”
So what was NECSI’s answer? Is Evolution A Theory would like to know, so I read on and here is their answer:
“We don’t know whether the tiger got its stripes through gradualism or punctuated equilibrium, but in order to explain both concepts, here is how it could have happened through each.”
NECSI goes on to explain each process. But wait a moment…. Did you notice anything here? Did you notice the bait and switch?
NECSI baited me with the word “Evolution” in their quiz question, which is defined by them as: (see definition here)
“ev•o•lu•tion n. 1. A gradual process in which something changes into a different and usually more complex or better form. “
But did you see the two examples they gave? The first example, from the question, is about adaptation of bacteria. The second example, from the article, is about adaptation of the tigers coat. Neither of these are examples of their evolution definition “more complex or better form“.
REALLY? You are the New England Complex System Institute and you website header says you are “solving problems of science and society“. These are your two best examples demonstrating the Theory of Evolution?
I am left baited and speechless.