OK here we go
Natural Selection vs Evolution
Definitions
Evolution:
First off we need to define evolution in terms of what we have been discussing.
The problem is there is no agreed upon term for evolution.
The first major problem of evolution is that evolutionists cannot even agree on a definition of what "evolution" is! Ernst Mayr, hailed as the "world's greatest living evolutionary biologist" (Gould, 2001a), candidly admitted that "Evolution shows so many facets that it looks alike to no two persons" (Mayr, 1970, p.1)!
Vague Definitions: Mayr's own definition of "evolution," in the glossary of his book, "What Evolution Is," is "The gradual process by which the living world has been developing following the origin of life" (Mayr, 2001, p.286).
But this is so vague that even the strictest creationist could agree with it; therefore it is useless. If Mayr, the "world's greatest living evolutionary biologist", cannot supply an adequate scientific definition of "evolution," in a book titled "What Evolution Is," then it is a reasonable assumption that evolutionists have no agreed, adequate scientific definition of "evolution"!
A favourite tactic of evolutionists, is to define "evolution" so vaguely that it cannot be false. For example, Carl Zimmer, in his book based on the USA PBS television series "Evolution," titled "Evolution: The Triumph of an Idea," defines "evolution" as "change, nothing more or less" (Zimmer C., 2001, p.135)!
What evolution really means in this discussion: However, there is a definition of "evolution" which is what mainstream science believes and that is "the standard scientific theory that `human beings have developed over millions of years from less advanced forms of life, but GOD HAD NO PART IN THIS PROCESS.'" (Shermer, 2002. My emphasis). That this is the real definition of evolution" within mainstream science is evident in that mainstream science will not permit even the most naturalistic of theistic evolutionist explanations within science, such as that of today's Kenneth Miller, where even "the idea of purpose" is too much (Palevitz, 2000) or yesteryear's Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, whose views were rejected out of hand as "pious bunk" (Medawar, 1966, p.xi). Also, dictionaries of biology (Abercrombie, et al., 1990, pp.194-195; Hale & Margham, 1988, p.214; Tootill, 1981, p.108), science (Isaacs, Daintith & Martin, 1991, pp.183, 251-252; Lafferty & Rowe, 1996, p.222) and philosophy (Vesey & Foulkes, 1990, p.108), define "evolution" as being opposed to "special creation". The real definition of "evolution," therefore, is `however it happened, God didn't do it' (Hunter, 2003, p.10; Johnson, 1992f)!
So there we have it.
DEF:Evolution is the process in which life becomes more complex over millions of years developing from less complex life into more complex life across genetic boundaries of a particular organism or species. Natural Selection:…is the process by which favorable traits that are heritable become more common in successive generations of a population of reproducing organisms, and unfavorable traits that are heritable become less common.
Natural selection acts on the phenotype, or the observable characteristics of an organism, such that individuals with favorable phenotypes are more likely to survive and reproduce than those with less favorable phenotypes. If these phenotypes have a genetic basis, then the genotype associated with the favorable phenotype will increase in frequency in the next generation. Over time, this process can result in adaptations that specialize organisms for particular ecological niches and
may eventually result in the emergence of new species. (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_selection)
I underlined the last sentence of the 2nd definition to bring up an issue. The words
may eventually result do not mean that it will happen. So to say natural selection WILL result in a new species is just speculation and opinion. Until natural selection can be shown to result in the emergence of a new species this last sentence is really meaningless.
Now onto analyzing the definitions. Both definitions above state that natural selection is variation in a particular genotype/phenotype.
Genotype:
the genetic constitution of an organism. The genotype determines the hereditary potentials and limitations of an individual from embryonic formation through adulthood. Among organisms that reproduce sexually, an individual's genotype comprises the entire complex of genes inherited from both parents.
Phenotype:
all the observable characteristics of an organism, such as shape, size, color, and behavior, that result from the interaction of its
genotype (total genetic inheritance) with the environment. The common type of a group of physically similar organisms is sometimes also known as the phenotype.
Both of these definitions refer to the genetic makeup of the organism. And most importantly, the potentials and limitations of that organism from a genetic perspective.
DEF:
So Natural Selection is the process by which an organism can adapt or pass on information to its offspring within and limited by its own genetic information.
While natural selection does produce change, it does not do it by adding new genetic information, but by weeding out some of the information that was already there.
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