1.
What are the key components of a scientific theory? What were the components of the Theory of Special Creation as it existed at the time of Darwin?
[Hint ]
To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.
2.
Describe the pattern of change seen in soapberry bugs over time and its likely cause. What do these findings suggest about the Theory of Special Creation as it existed in Darwin's time?
[Hint ]
To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.
3.
What is a vestigial structure? Give examples of vestigial traits at the structural, developmental, and genetic level. Describe how evidence from studies of Mexican tetras supports the theory of descent with modficiation. Explain how the existence of these traits refutes the Theory of Special Creation as outlined in the chapter introduction.
[Hint ]
To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.
4.
Discuss the fact of extinction, the law of succession in the fossil record, the nature and existence of transitional forms in the fossil record, and the evidence of environmental change over time, giving examples as appropriate. Explain how/why these refute the Theory of Special Creation as outlined in the chapter introduction.
[Hint ]
To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.
5.
What is a phylogenetic tree (i.e., what does it represent) and what are its basic components? Demonstrate your ability to "read" a phylogenetic tree by writing an explanation for how tigers got their stripes using the tree presented in figure 2.10.
[Hint ]
To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.
6.
What is homology? Illustrate your answer with examples of structural, developmental, and genetic homologies. Explain how the presence and pattern of homologies supports the hypothesis of common ancestry rather than of special creation.
[Hint ]
To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.
7.
Describe the kind of distribution pattern Darwin found in animals of the Galapagos islands. Explain how this distribution supports the hypothesis of common ancestry rather than of special creation.
[Hint ]
To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.
8.
Describe the principle of uniformitarianism. What is the geological time scale? What do the geological time scale, the geologic column, and the principle of uniformitarianism tell us about the age of the earth, and how does this argue against the Theory of Special Creation and in favor of the hypothesis of descent with modification?
[Hint ]
To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.
9.
How old is the earth? How do we know? What is the oldest fossil organism, and how old is it?
[Hint ]
To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.
10.
Compare and contrast Methodological and Ontological Natualism. How is the adoption of Methodological Naturalism by science justified and how does it constrain the nature of scientific explanations? Is the Theory of Special Creation as outlined in the chapter introduction consistent with this approach to science? Why or why not? In theory, does the adoption of Methodological Naturalism imply disbelief in a divine creator? Why or why not?
[Hint ]
To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.
11.
Is there necessarily a conflict between evolutionary biology and religion? What is the empirical evidence? What specific ways can you think of to reconcile the two?
[Hint ]
To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.
