Darwin had three hands.
Evolution is a theory and, like any other theory, is supported by evidence. It's "not a dreamy and unreliable speculation, but an explanatory statement that fits the evidence" (Quammen).
Evolutionists believe that the reason 44 percent of Americans reject evolution is due to "creationist proselytizers and political activists" and "honest confusion and ignorance" (Quammen).
"Many, if not most, biological scientists accept that primordial life on earth began as a result of chance natural occurrences 3.5-4 billion year ago" (http://anthro.palomar.edu/evolve/evolve_3.htm). However, the theory of evolution doesn't specify how initial life began, just that the first traces of life evolved into what is life today.
Evolution is a theory "about the origin of adaptation, complexity, and diversity among Earth's living creatures" (Quammen). It is a theory of natural selection that is supported by evidence, the Charles Darwin came up with.
Charles Darwin was not the first person to consider a theory that all animals came from common ancestors which, "had been suggested by other thinkers, including Jean-Baptitse lamarck, long before Darwin published The Origin of Species in 1859" (Quammen).
Darwin had such a lasting impact on the theory of evolution because of his book, The Origin of Species, because the book, "offered a rational explanation of how evolution must occur" (Quammen). Another naturalist, young Alfred Russel Wallace also discovered natural selection during the late 1850's, but while both he and Darwin discovered the same concept, they both worked and discovered independently of each other.
Natural selection is a major part of the Theory of Evolution. discovered around 1850 by Charles Darwin. "The gist of the concept is that small, random, heritable differences among individuals result in different chances of survival and reproductionsuccess for some, death without offspring for othersand that this natural culling leads to significant changes in shape, size, strength, aremament, color, biochemistry, and behavior among descendants" (Quammen).
Many people do not agree with the theory of evolution, and think that God was the one who created all the species. "Hare krisha movement, explained that God created " the 8,400,000 species of life from the very beginning," in order to establish multiple tires for reincarnation for the rising souls" (Quammen).
"That is, complex creatures evolve from more simplistic ancestors naturally over time. In a nutshell, as random genetic mutations occur within an organism's genetic code, the beneficial mutations are preserved because they aid survival — a process known as "natural selection.""(http://www.darwins-theory-of-evolution.com/).
Evolution is important for the advances in " human welfare, to medical science, and to understanding of the world than ever before."(Quammen)
Evolution is not a faith, "the supporting evidence is abundant, various, ever increasing, solidly interconnected…" it is fact.(Quammen)
Most people don't believe in evolution even thought it is proven to be true "in a 2001 Gallup poll 45 percent of U.S. adults said they believe evolution has played no role in shaping humans."(http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/10/1018_041018_science_religion.html)
Vestigial Structures are evidence that Darwin's theory of Evolution through Natural Selection is correct. For example: "Why do certain species of flightless beetle have wings sealed beneath wing covers that never open?" Vestigial characteristics are created by adaption over time. If a structure is no longer of use, it will slowly adapt and grow smaller until it no longer exists.
Darwin hypothesized that geological changes over time influence plant and animal life. He was influenced by Charles Lyell who also studied geological changes over time. (Biology Book)
Darwin's theory of natural selection consists of four main points.
a. There is variation within populations
b. Some variations are favorable.
c. Not all young produced in each generation can survive.
d. Individuals that survive and reproduce are those with favorable variations.
(Biology Book)
