Evolution questions from my creationist friend

[Coito ergo sum]

[
Well, why don't you explain to us why there are still monkeys?

Because we didn't evolve from modern monkeys. We are monkeys.

The question is nonsensical. Why are there still fish? Why are there still single celled organisms? Why are there still rodents?

[Clinton Huxley]

What predictions does ID make that could not have a Darwinian explanation?

Which of these predictions are supported by research findings?

[cursuswalker]

My creationist friend has been asking some questions about evolution, that I don't know the answer to. Can you please answer these questions:
1. Has there been a demonstration of random mutation and natural selection generating complex new biological systems?

Nylon comsuming bacteria that evolved in a vent of a nylon factory and then again in the laboratory should do it.

[Seth]

and absolutely NO actual DNA analysis. It's purely morphological at this point,

Errr...

http://scholar.google.co.uk/scholar?q=D ... =en&tab=ws

Sorry, you are correct, we now have ONE DNA data point other than our own.

and nobody has explained how or why several different forms of hominids coexisted for at least some period of time.

This is the 'why are there still monkeys?' argument. Seriously, dude. This is not your standard of argument. Very poor.

Well, why don't you explain to us why there are still monkeys?

Why wouldn't there be? I am a descendant of my mother and father but they are still around. Why are there still parents?

And we did not evolve from monkeys. We share a common ancestor with monkeys. just like I share a common ancestor with you. So why are you still here?

Which doesn't explain why monkeys don't have human intelligence, don't walk upright, or why sharks don't have large brains and swim bladders, etc.

Evolution marches on, right? All organisms are continuously evolving through a series of small changes, correct? But what are they evolving into? Where is the transitional form between gorillas and humans that ought to exist if gorillas are evolving? Why are gorillas not becoming more like humans? Why do not the various branches from our "common ancestor" themselves evolve towards greater intelligence? Clearly humans have the evolutionary advantage here, so why haven't evolutionary pressures guided chimpanzees towards an erect posture and human intelligence?

[Seth]

and absolutely NO actual DNA analysis. It's purely morphological at this point,

Errr...

http://scholar.google.co.uk/scholar?q=D ... =en&tab=ws

Sorry, you are correct, we now have ONE DNA data point other than our own.

and nobody has explained how or why several different forms of hominids coexisted for at least some period of time.

This is the 'why are there still monkeys?' argument. Seriously, dude. This is not your standard of argument. Very poor.

Well, why don't you explain to us why there are still monkeys?

Not much of an explanation I'm afraid, though your chosen video does pretty accurately represent your debatorial abilities on this subject.

[Seth]

What predictions does ID make that could not have a Darwinian explanation?

Why are the two mutually exclusive?

Which of these predictions are supported by research findings?

Why is scientific ignorance trumpeted as a virtue by you?

[Clinton Huxley]

What predictions does ID make that could not have a Darwinian explanation?

Why are the two mutually exclusive?

Which of these predictions are supported by research findings?

Why is scientific ignorance trumpeted as a virtue by you?

So you don't know, then? Didn't think so.

[Xamonas Chegwé]

Which doesn't explain why monkeys don't have human intelligence, don't walk upright, or why sharks don't have large brains and swim bladders, etc.

Neither does it explain why porcupines don't come equipped with ironing boards. Perhaps they just never needed them.

Evolution marches on, right? All organisms are continuously evolving through a series of small changes, correct?

True.

But what are they evolving into?

Something marginally more suited to their environment.

Where is the transitional form between gorillas and humans that ought to exist if gorillas are evolving? Why are gorillas not becoming more like humans?

Why would a gorilla need to evolve into a human or anything like a human? Why do you insist that evolution has a direction, a plan? Gorillas did OK where they were without a bigger brain, so they haven't evolved one. Simple.

Why do not the various branches from our "common ancestor" themselves evolve towards greater intelligence? Clearly humans have the evolutionary advantage here, so why haven't evolutionary pressures guided chimpanzees towards an erect posture and human intelligence?

Why do you assume that greater intelligence is necessarily an advantage to all species?

[Clinton Huxley]

Damn it, why doesn't every species have every single adaptation that's ever proved useful to any species?!? Why, God, why?

[Azathoth]

and absolutely NO actual DNA analysis. It's purely morphological at this point,

Errr...

http://scholar.google.co.uk/scholar?q=D ... =en&tab=ws

Sorry, you are correct, we now have ONE DNA data point other than our own.

and nobody has explained how or why several different forms of hominids coexisted for at least some period of time.

This is the 'why are there still monkeys?' argument. Seriously, dude. This is not your standard of argument. Very poor.

Well, why don't you explain to us why there are still monkeys?

Not much of an explanation I'm afraid, though your chosen video does pretty accurately represent your debatorial abilities on this subject.

I can't be bothered knocking down blatant strawmen

[Seth]

I can't be bothered knocking down blatant strawmen

I think henceforth, I shall call you "Brave Sir Robin."

[Seth]

What predictions does ID make that could not have a Darwinian explanation?

Why are the two mutually exclusive?

Which of these predictions are supported by research findings?

Why is scientific ignorance trumpeted as a virtue by you?

So you don't know, then? Didn't think so.

Oh, I know, but that's not the point, which has obviously eluded you...again.

[Clinton Huxley]

Evasiveness. How tiresome.

[Seth]

Which doesn't explain why monkeys don't have human intelligence, don't walk upright, or why sharks don't have large brains and swim bladders, etc.

Neither does it explain why porcupines don't come equipped with ironing boards. Perhaps they just never needed them.

And yet human beings evolved from the same "common ancestor" and clearly "needed them." So why is the adaptation so beneficial to humans not seen in monkeys?

Evolution marches on, right? All organisms are continuously evolving through a series of small changes, correct?

True.

But what are they evolving into?

Something marginally more suited to their environment.

And yet humans evolved in the same environment, and indeed largely in the same place as other primates, so why didn't each species continue to evolve along roughly the same lines? Are the genetic adaptations that resulted in humans not also useful to chimpanzees?

Where is the transitional form between gorillas and humans that ought to exist if gorillas are evolving? Why are gorillas not becoming more like humans?

Why would a gorilla need to evolve into a human or anything like a human?

Why wouldn't it? Clearly we are better adapted for survival than the gorilla is, which is why there are lots of us and few of them. Why would evolutionary pressure not force them towards higher intelligence and other adaptations that would make them better able to survive, as we have?

Why do you insist that evolution has a direction, a plan?

I don't. I merely pose the question of why, when they both existed in the same general environment for hundreds of thousands or millions of years, did gorillas not advance more quickly towards human-like intelligence than they have? Were the evolutionary pressures substantially different? Why did humans evolve a more complex brain and upright gait, and language, while gorillas did not?

Gorillas did OK where they were without a bigger brain, so they haven't evolved one. Simple.

Not sufficient. This is circular logic. Hominids "did OK" where they were, and yet they did develop bigger brains. Why?

Why do not the various branches from our "common ancestor" themselves evolve towards greater intelligence? Clearly humans have the evolutionary advantage here, so why haven't evolutionary pressures guided chimpanzees towards an erect posture and human intelligence?

Why do you assume that greater intelligence is necessarily an advantage to all species?

Why do you assume it's not?

[Seth]

Evasiveness. How tiresome.

Then by all means slip back into soporific slumber and refuse to stretch your intellect even a little, because you might do yourself an injury.