3 ms·
Weird question. Yes there is a fossil record of speciation.
by frozenport 3y ago
Weird question. Yes there is a fossil record of speciation.
- ccooffee 3y agoI disagree. The question, > Has science ever observed speciation via natural selection amongst a sexually reproducing cohort? posits a world where we can iteratively ask-and-answer questions if scientists are paying attention to speciation. The fossil record provides many many snapshots of different beings, from which we can infer speciation. By seeing the split _as it happens_, we can test hypotheses.
- frozenport 3y agoIt seems to imply a dichotomy in value between seeing "as it happens" and the fossil record. Some of the most definitive proof of speciation is the actual fossil record, while simulations or purpose constructed experiments typically achieve the desired results of their authors.
- explaininjs 3y agoFossil record demonstrates evolution at most. Even then there are plenty of large gaps. Fossils don’t tell us about speciation, as that’s a concern of reproductive capabilities not physical features. They certainly don’t tell us anything about the selection process being “natural”. (aliens from Tralfamadore coming over in hovercraft to explicitly select for the features they want would leave the same fossil record)