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>> But I think it's worth stressing that the primary force that drives evolution is still very clearly natural selection. what makes you so sure of that?

azakai 10y ago
Well, it's the universal view in evolutionary biology, in everything I've read and people I've talked to. It's also clearly stated in the opening paragraphs of the wikipedia entry for example [1]. Or were you asking why biologists are so sure? I'm not a biologist, but my understanding is that the evidence for natural selection is simply overwhelming on all levels (archeological, experimental, theoretical, simulations, etc.). Other evolutionary processes have interesting work behind them, but the burden of proof to show they matter as much as natural selection has just not been hit yet. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_selection https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_selection
- lawpoop 10y ago
  A nitpick: archaeology is the digging up of human remains and artifacts. Paleontology is probably what you mean.
  - azakai 10y ago
    Oops, thanks for the correction!
- ChemicalWarfare 10y ago
  From what I gather, the core concept of the evolution which is speciation has not been demonstrated to be caused by natural selection. Everything I've read about so far is merely demonstrating adaptation of the species as opposed to a new species emerging.
  - azakai 10y ago
    There isn't much debate on this anymore in biology - practically every important evolutionary biologist accepts that speciation is driven by natural selection. Of course other factors matter too, like goegraphic separation, and so forth; they can provide an opportunity for natural selection to drive changes between groups, that when they grow large enough become a difference in species. But it is natural selection that creates those differences. There is a small minority that think otherwise.
  - Oletros 10y ago
    Can you give us some sources for your claim that speciation has not been demostrated to be caused by natural selection? > I've read about so far is merely demonstrating adaptation of the species as opposed to a new species emergin You seem to not understand what natural selection, spceciation or evolution are
    - ChemicalWarfare 10y ago
      >> Can you give us some sources for your claim that speciation has not been demostrated to be caused by natural selection? If you're claiming that it has, the burden of proof is on you. That's how arguments work. >> You seem to not understand what natural selection, spceciation or evolution are I'm all ears.

azakai 10y ago

Well, it's the universal view in evolutionary biology, in everything I've read and people I've talked to. It's also clearly stated in the opening paragraphs of the wikipedia entry for example [1]. Or were you asking why biologists are so sure? I'm not a biologist, but my understanding is that the evidence for natural selection is simply overwhelming on all levels (archeological, experimental, theoretical, simulations, etc.). Other evolutionary processes have interesting work behind them, but the burden of proof to show they matter as much as natural selection has just not been hit yet. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_selection https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_selection

lawpoop 10y ago
A nitpick: archaeology is the digging up of human remains and artifacts. Paleontology is probably what you mean.
- azakai 10y ago
  Oops, thanks for the correction!
ChemicalWarfare 10y ago
From what I gather, the core concept of the evolution which is speciation has not been demonstrated to be caused by natural selection. Everything I've read about so far is merely demonstrating adaptation of the species as opposed to a new species emerging.
- azakai 10y ago
  There isn't much debate on this anymore in biology - practically every important evolutionary biologist accepts that speciation is driven by natural selection. Of course other factors matter too, like goegraphic separation, and so forth; they can provide an opportunity for natural selection to drive changes between groups, that when they grow large enough become a difference in species. But it is natural selection that creates those differences. There is a small minority that think otherwise.
- Oletros 10y ago
  Can you give us some sources for your claim that speciation has not been demostrated to be caused by natural selection? > I've read about so far is merely demonstrating adaptation of the species as opposed to a new species emergin You seem to not understand what natural selection, spceciation or evolution are
  - ChemicalWarfare 10y ago
    >> Can you give us some sources for your claim that speciation has not been demostrated to be caused by natural selection? If you're claiming that it has, the burden of proof is on you. That's how arguments work. >> You seem to not understand what natural selection, spceciation or evolution are I'm all ears.