Natural selection exists, I don't doubt that. Any six-year-old who's ever played musical chairs can understand the basic principle behind it.
The problem is that while natural selection can explain the survival of the fittest, there's still the huge question of the arrival of the fittest. The notion of random mutations altering DNA sequences to produce the new traits that makeup the fittest is absurd.
"The notion of random mutations altering DNA sequences to produce the new traits that makeup the fittest is absurd."
Only to you and not to scientists, who actually study it all.
One Common Ancestor Behind Blue Eyes
People with blue eyes have a single, common ancestor, according to new research.
A team of scientists has tracked down a
genetic mutation that leads to blue eyes. The mutation occurred between 6,000 and 10,000 years ago. Before then, there were no blue eyes.
"Originally, we all had brown eyes," said Hans Eiberg from the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the University of Copenhagen.
The mutation affected the so-called OCA2 gene, which is involved in the production of melanin, the pigment that gives color to our hair, eyes and skin.
"A genetic mutation affecting the OCA2 gene in our chromosomes resulted in the creation of a 'switch,' which literally 'turned off' the ability to produce brown eyes," Eiberg said.
The genetic switch is located in the gene adjacent to OCA2 and rather than completely turning off the gene, the switch limits its action, which reduces the production of melanin in the iris. In effect, the turned-down switch diluted brown eyes to blue.
If the OCA2 gene had been completely shut down, our hair, eyes and skin would be melanin-less, a condition known as albinism...
"That genetic switch somehow spread throughout Europe and now other parts of the world.
"The question really is, 'Why did we go from having nobody on Earth with blue eyes 10,000 years ago to having 20 or 40 percent of Europeans having blue eyes now?" Hawks said. "This gene does something good for people. It makes them have more kids."
One Common Ancestor Behind Blue Eyes | LiveScience