Weeks 1-3 Introduction
 

I. Positions defined:  (Creation / Design and Naturalism)
 

II. Suggested framework for sorting through the arguments:
 

Typical argument for purely naturalistic, evolutionary origin of life, and of biological diversity is based on the following:

            Microevolution
            artificial selection
            patterns in biogeography
            embryology
            comparative anatomy/morphology
            comparison of gene and protein sequences
            imperfections in biological organisms
            vestigial organs
            evidence for long ages
            sequences of fossils in geological strata
            naturalistic worldview (excludes creation by definition)
 

Essential for strong scientific conclusion (need at least one):

            direct evidence
            plausible mechanism

IV.  Argument strategies that cause confusion

   a)  Multiple uses of the term "evolution"
   b)  Evolution is a historical fact, arguments are only about mechanisms
   c)  Religion and science don't conflict, they are just in separate realms
   d)  Ignoring the distinction between origin and operation of the natural world
   e)  Creationists are against science
   f)  Inaccurately representing the creationist position
 

Video - The theological roots of modern science, Dr. Henry F. Schaeffer

V. Falsifiability
 

Is macroevolution and hypothesis of common ancestry (naturalistic) falsifiable?
Is the hypothesis of Intelligent Design falsifiable?

Week 4,5,6  Video debate (P. Johnson and W. Provine)
 
 

Week 7-9  Cosmology
 

Basic observations:
 

1.  light observed from very distant galaxies
2.  red shifts increase with distance
3.  cosmic microwave background radiation
4.  anthropic coincidences (fine-tuning)

Two important conclusions since 1960:

1.  there was a beginning
2.  the universe is amazingly fine-tuned for the existence of life on earth

Video:  Creation of the Cosmos - Lecture by Dr. Walter Bradley at Univ. of California, Santa Barbara

Video:  Evidence For God?  Fred Heeren Interviews Todays Top Space Scientists
 
 

  What is life?
  How close are scientists to creating life in the laboratory?
  Requirements for life to arise spontaneously (soup theory)
  Problems/difficulties
  Main steps of progress/theories
  Best estimates of probability that life arose spontaneously
  Other naturalistic theories - panspermia (Crick, Hoyle)
  Life on Mars?
 

  Video interview with Dean Kenyon on Origin of Life

  Video interview with Dr. Charles Thaxton
 

Week 14-18  Microevolution

 
I.  definitions
II. genetic information - what is it and how is it stored and processed
III.  mechanism - natural selection acting on genetic variation
IV.  examples of microevolution

examples involving same level or loss of genetic variation
examples involving an increase in genetic variation

V. observed limits (greatest changes or effects which have been observed)
 

examples of new functional genes arising by mutation?
exons or genes as the smallest unit of information?
can organisms direct their own mutations?

Weeks 20-24  Macroevolution
 

I.  Definitions
II.  Direct observations of - none
III.  Fossil evidence

a)  Reasonable expectations based on common ancestry
b)  Actual data (characteristic features of the fossil record)

-abrupt appearance (Cambrian Explosion)
-stasis
-abrupt disappearance
-gaps, increase in intensity as the taxonomic hierarchy is ascended, disparity preceeds diversity

Video interview of J. Valentine on Cambrian Explosion

-commonly cited transitional fossils

1)  therapsids:   reptile-to-mammal
2)  ape-to-human
3)  horse series
4)  Archaeopteryx
5)  dinosaur-to-bird transition
6)  Acanthostega

IV.  Proposed mechanisms

A.  Gradualism - Random genetic variation + natural selection
B.  Punctuated Equilibrium
C.  Others?

 Video:  Lecture by P. Johnson at U. of Wales (Blind Watchmaker thesis)

  The chemistry of life-DNA replication and protein synthesis
  Irreducible complexity-examples: blood clotting, cilia, bacterial flagellum, etc
  Molecular machines

  Audio/video lectures by M. Behe
 
 

The origin of developmental trajectories - are they irreducibly complex?

Observed variation in developmental trajectories and the origin of body plans

Does NeoDarwinism ignore development?

Audio lecture by Paul Nelson

    (Microevolution within types versus macroevolutionary transition)

 
  summary of observations
   -Lucy, Turkana boy, etc.
   -summary of human-like and ape-like features of australopithicus afarensis
   -gap between australopithecus and homo erectus
   -Laetoli footprints
   -semicircular canals
  Possible explanations for morphological features of erectus and neandertalus
  Recent erectus-like fossils

  homology/convergence
  protein and gene sequence comparisons, molecular phylogenies
  argument from imperfection

  what things in biology don't make sense in light of macroevolution