Sir, - In his attempt to disprove and disparage evolution Mr Sean Woods (April 29th) paints a sweeping canvas with a very broad brush. He makes several points which I wish to refute.
(1) I strongly disagree with Mr Woods's assertion that evolution is "nowhere to be seen in the world". The evidence is abundant. Every living plant and animal is the result of the action of natural selection i.e., evolution. The similarities between (a) animals such as humans and apes and (b) the DNA and protein content and structure of all living organisms are so striking that it is inconceivable to scientific logic that they did not arise from a common starting point millions of years ago.
(2) Mutations, as defined scientifically, are not "always pathological". They are simply changes in the nucleotide sequence of DNA. Therefore, they can be neutral, beneficial or harmful to an organism. Evolutionary theory teaches that individual organisms (and their progeny) which contain beneficial mutations will be "selected for" over time as they are "fitter" i.e., better able to cope with their environment. Examples of such beneficial mutations (for the organism) are those which occurred in the bacteria that have developed resistance to antibiotics.
(3) Evolution does not in any way "ignore reality". The human population increased only gradually over the millennia until the advent of modern science and medicine after which it rose dramatically. It is this dramatic rise which primarily explains the "20 fold increase" since the time of Christ. It does not support Mr Woods's contention that the "time of man on the earth is 20,000 years".
(4) I agree that the chance of a fully mature horse suddenly appearing "out of a different form of life is mathematically impossible". However, the theory of evolution makes no such claims. The evolution of the horse was among the first evidence to be obtained which supported the theory. The theory has demonstrated that the modern horse (Equus) has evolved from an ancestor (Hyracotherium) at an imperceptible rate (to humans) over millions of years under the action of natural selection. At no stage was a "different form of life" involved.
(5) Mr Woods states that "evolution is a theory which has withstood all attempts to substantiate it". This statement is quite simply wrong. There is a huge quantity of fossil (and other) evidence to support evolution. I draw Mr Woods's attention to any of the books written by Stephen Jay Gould and Richard Dawkins for detailed descriptions of this evidence.
Finally, Mr Woods quotes Dr W.R. Thompson's assertion that "Darwinism was accompanied by a decline in scientific integrity". Firstly, this statement is in itself debatable but even were it true it does not challenge the verity of evolution. Secondly, Dr Thompson was clearly a supporter of evolution since the quote is taken from the preface which Dr Thompson wrote for a 1956 edition of The Origin of Species! - Yours, etc.,
Woodlawn Park,
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Dun Laoghaire,
Co Dublin.