Evolution is Not...

This post is not intended to address creationists but rather people who just haven't studied evolution in depth, or have only a passing familiarity with it.  During a discussion with an acquaintance recently, I was reminded how the average person doesn't have a clear concept of evolution.  Misconceptions are so common and so often repeated it's no wonder even people who accept evolution as a sound scientific theory can sometimes be confused.



*  Biological evolution does not mean simply "changes over time."

Lots of things change over time, but they might not be evolving. Evolution is a process that results in heritable changes in a population spread over many generations. Biological evolution, simply put, is descent with modification.

*  Evolution, as a whole, is not a random process.

Some elements of evolution are random - mutation, for instance.  But other important mechanisms, like natural selection, are not random at all.   Natural selection favors organisms that are better suited to their environment - that's the opposite of random.

*  Evolution does not address the origin of life, that field of study is called abiogensis.

Evolutionary biology deals with how life changed after it began. Regardless of whether life was planted by aliens, a divine being, or an asteroid, it doesn't change the fact that it evolved afterward.

*  Evolution is not about progress or improvement. 

1) All an organism has to be is good enough to survive, not necessarily better. A "C"student still passes. 2) Factors in evolution like mutation, migration and genetic drift can cause populations to evolve in ways that are not helpful or progressive, and in fact can be harmful. 3) The traits that make a population successful in one environment may be a hindrance when the climate changes, or when new competitors move in.

*  Evolution does not have a goal, a purpose or intent.

It describes the process by which populations are modified by their circumstances over many generations.    

 
*  Humans, as a species have not stopped evolving.

We have evidence of recent evolutionary changes among populations, including mutations that allow people to digest milk or resist malaria and others that govern brain development.