This page contains a brief three-fold comment and signatures of scientists who support it. These scientists argue that special evolution occurs\u2014including natural selection and certain modes of speciation\u2014but that general evolution is hypothetical (see definitions by Kerkut1). Some of these scientists work in the basic disciplines of physics, chemistry, and biology. Others work in the applied disciplines of geology, medicine, agriculture, and engineering. All have significant training in biological and\/or biochemical sciences and are capable of evaluating arguments related to this issue.<\/p>\n
We the undersigned support the following comment:<\/p>\n
Special evolution<\/strong>1<\/sup> involves natural selection and speciation within limits of a given gene pool. Special evolution can be demonstrated by both field and laboratory research and should be regarded as factual.<\/p>\n General evolution<\/strong>1<\/sup> suggests that all organisms\u2014extant and extinct\u2014arose from a simple, common ancestor and are the result of small, gradual genetic changes over time. General evolution is a hypothetical extrapolation from special evolution and should be regarded as a theoretical model, since it cannot be tested directly in the laboratory or field. We are not convinced that general evolution, including the extrapolation itself as well as its underlying assumptions, provides an adequate scientific explanation for the origin and diversity of all known forms of life.<\/p>\n Chemical evolution<\/strong> (similar to abiogenesis) is the self-organization of life from non-living elemental precursors. Chemical evolution has never been demonstrated, and its proposed mechanisms remain conjectural. Chemical evolution becomes a philosophical position when it assumes that the mere presence of natural mechanisms necessarily precludes intelligence.<\/p>\n Finally, the scientists named below were “self-assembled.”\u00a0 They have no organization, nor are they collectively affiliated with any institute or movement.\u00a0 They have no common view on politics, religion, or even science policy.\u00a0 Importantly, these scientists are not interested in scientific activism or debates, whether the debates are personal or public. They have signed this comment to inform the public that there is significant doubt among trained scientists regarding the claims of chemical and general evolution. The public has been given the false impression that both chemical evolution and general evolution are undisputed by working scientists and that only the details of biological mechanisms are now debated.<\/p>\n Scientists’ names (in alpha order), their credentials, and\/or their current positions are listed below. If an asterisk appears with the name, that scientist will eventually offer an elaboration of the above comment. Individual websites can be located via an Internet search; this web page does not contain links or function as a science weblog.<\/p>\n Steven Barnes<\/strong> Todd Bridges<\/strong> Durell C. Dobbins <\/strong> David Eakin<\/strong> John Fritz<\/strong> Daniel Ginting<\/strong> Stephen Hobson<\/strong> Ben Holt<\/strong> Monty Kerley<\/strong> David Livingston<\/strong> Eric Midboe<\/strong> Matthew Moore<\/strong> Alan Proia <\/strong> James Perkins<\/strong> Robert Perkins<\/strong> Craig Roberts<\/strong> Mark Rochat<\/strong> Frank Setzler<\/strong> C. Gerald Van Dyke<\/strong> Glenn Wilson<\/strong> Lawson Winton<\/strong> Jerry Workman<\/strong> 1<\/sup> “There is a theory which states that many living animals can be observed over the course of time to undergo changes so that new species are formed. This can be called the ‘Special Theory of Evolution’ and can be demonstrated in certain cases by experiments. On the other hand there is the theory that all the living forms in the world have arisen from a single source which itself came from an inorganic form. This theory can be called the ‘General Theory of Evolution’ and the evidence that supports it is not sufficiently strong to allow us to consider it as anything more than a working hypothesis. It is not clear whether the changes that bring about speciation are of the same nature as those that brought about the development of new phyla. The answer will be found by future experimental work and not by dogmatic assertions that the General Theory of Evolution must be correct because there is nothing else that will satisfactorily take its place.” Kerkut, G.A. 1960. Implications of Evolution. Pergamon Press Ltd., Oxford. (Professor Kerkut published this landmark book as part of the International Series of Monographs on Pure and Applied Biology. At the time, Kerkut was General Editor of the Zoology Division.)<\/p>\n This comment was written by David Eakin, Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Eastern Kentucky University, and Craig Roberts, Professor, Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri.<\/p>\n Revised: August 8, 2006<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This page contains a brief three-fold comment and signatures of scientists who support it. These scientists argue that special evolution occurs\u2014including natural selection and certain modes of speciation\u2014but that general evolution is hypothetical (see definitions by Kerkut1). Some of these scientists work in the basic disciplines of physics, chemistry, and biology. 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\nPhD Chemistry, University of California-San Diego
\nProfessor Emeritus, Department of Chemistry,
\nTexas A&M University-Corpus Christi<\/p>\n
\nBA Biology, California State University, Fresno
\nMA Biology, California State University, Fresno
\nPhD Biological Oceanography, North Carolina State University<\/p>\n
\nBS\/BS Biology and Chemistry, University of North Alabama
\nMS Environmental Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham
\nPhD Microbial Ecology, University of North Carolina<\/p>\n
\nBA Biology, University of Louisville
\nMS Biology, University of Louisville
\nPhD Botany, University of Florida
\nAssociate Professor, Biological Sciences, Eastern Kentucky University<\/p>\n
\nPhD Agronomy, University of Illinois
\nAssociate Professor, Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University<\/p>\n
\nBS Soil Science, Bogor Agricultural University, Indonesia
\nMS Soil Science, North Dakota State University
\nPhD Soil Science, University of Minnesota<\/p>\n
\nPhD Chemistry, University of California, Irvine<\/p>\n
\nBS Chemistry, University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
\nMD, University of Tennessee-Memphis<\/p>\n
\nPhD Animal Sciences, University of Illinois
\nProfessor Emeritus, Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri<\/p>\n
\nBS Crop Science, Colorado State University
\nMS Plant Breeding, Michigan State University
\nPhD Plant Breeding and Plant Physiology, Michigan State University
\nAssociate Professor, North Carolina State University<\/p>\n
\nBS Biochemistry, University of Missouri
\nPhD Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming<\/p>\n
\nBS Biology, Arkansas State University
\nMS Biology, Arkansas State University
\nPhD Biology, University of Mississippi<\/p>\n
\nBA Biology, The Johns Hopkins University
\nPhD Biochemistry, The Rockefeller University
\nMD, Cornell University Medical College
\nProfessor, Department of Pathology, Duke University Medical Center<\/p>\n
\nDVM Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis<\/p>\n
\nBS Biomedical Science, Texas A&M University
\nDVM Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University<\/p>\n
\nPhD Agronomy (PhD minor Biochemistry), University of Arkansas
\nProfessor, Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri<\/p>\n
\nDVM Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University
\nProfessor, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Oklahoma State University<\/p>\n
\nBS Biology, University of Houston
\nDO, University of North Texas Health Science Center, College of Osteopathic Medicine<\/p>\n
\nPhD Plant Pathology, University of Illinois
\nProfessor, Department of Botany, North Carolina State University<\/p>\n
\nBS Crop Science, Louisiana State University
\nMS Soil Physics, Louisiana State University
\nPhD Soil Physics, University of Arkansas<\/p>\n
\nBS Forestry, University of California, Berkeley
\nMS Forestry, University of California, Berkeley
\nPhD Forestry (minor Botany and Genetics), University of Minnesota<\/p>\n
\nBA Natural Sciences, St. Mary’s University of Minnesota
\nMA Biological Sciences and Genetics, St. Mary’s University of Minnesota
\nPhD Biological Chemistry, Columbia Pacific University
\nCSEP and CED, Columbia University<\/p>\n
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