What Predictions can be made using Evol Theory? (Darwin, doom)

[painted wolf]

basic structure perhaps, but genetically they can be wildly different from their ancestors.

Modern Bacteria for example look in effect exactly what we think their ancestors looked like. Genetically they are highly evolved and continue to do so at a tremendous rate.

Even the shark is, in many ways, nothing like its earliest ancestors.

wa:do

[logician]

Originally Posted by painted wolf

basic structure perhaps, but genetically they can be wildly different from their ancestors.

Modern Bacteria for example look in effect exactly what we think their ancestors looked like. Genetically they are highly evolved and continue to do so at a tremendous rate.

Even the shark is, in many ways, nothing like its earliest ancestors.

wa:do

It's not necessarily the same animal(species), just the same body structure, the crocodile is a good example, it has a successful life style, so its evolution has not changed its structure a lot. Bacteria are kind of a bad example, as they can evolve so quickly.

[painted wolf]

No species radically alters its body structure. (otherwise it would be a new species or genus)
Crocs are quite different from their ancestors. (skinny terrestrial runners)

wa:do

[logician]

Originally Posted by painted wolf

No species radically alters its body structure. (otherwise it would be a new species or genus)
Crocs are quite different from their ancestors. (skinny terrestrial runners)

wa:do

Certainly not from all their ancestors, there were much larger versions during various periods of the dinosaurs.

[Random]

I got me a 3 page thread! Wunderbar! That never happens to me...usually...

[painted wolf]

Certainly not from all their ancestors, there were much larger versions during various periods of the dinosaurs.

No animal is different from all its ancestors.
My point however stands... that what many people think of as creatures that have 'never' changed are often quite changed from their ancestral state.
This idea of crocs being 'unchanged' since the time of dinosaurs is fraudulent. They at first glance have changed very little, but when you look closer you see a host of details.
Its like saying Archy was 'just a bird'.

Form and function can however predict evolutionary trends. (to get back on topic)
The ancestors of the modern crocs would be predicted to be differently adapted than modern species, with signs of developing toward the modern condition.
One would also predict a host of extinct species that are evolving in directions other than the one that leads to the modern condition. (bipedal herbivores for example)
Crocs display both.

wa:do

[logician]

Originally Posted by painted wolf

No animal is different from all its ancestors.
My point however stands... that what many people think of as creatures that have 'never' changed are often quite changed from their ancestral state.
This idea of crocs being 'unchanged' since the time of dinosaurs is fraudulent. They at first glance have changed very little, but when you look closer you see a host of details.
Its like saying Archy was 'just a bird'.

Form and function can however predict evolutionary trends. (to get back on topic)
The ancestors of the modern crocs would be predicted to be differently adapted than modern species, with signs of developing toward the modern condition.
One would also predict a host of extinct species that are evolving in directions other than the one that leads to the modern condition. (bipedal herbivores for example)
Crocs display both.

wa:do

I admit there are few species that are exactly like their ancestors, but there are a few that are quite similiar.

[painted wolf]

like us for example.

wa:do

[crystalonyx]

Originally Posted by painted wolf

like us for example.

wa:do

Actually, we are giants compared to homo sapiens 100 years ago. Anatomically similar but much larger.