Evolution vs religion (II): Re: Re: Random Mutation

» Andrzej406 - Re: Re: Random Mutation

In response to message posted by Franc28:

Does anyone know whether the bacteria that exist today have "evolved" in any significant way from the bacteria that existed tens of millions of years ago. I suppose that might be difficult to determine, but I would be inclined to think that there has not been a tremendous amount of change and that the bacteria of today would probably be not that much different from the bacteria you could have found in the nostril of a stegosaurus. There would be differences, no doubt, given different environments placing different types of pressures on each succeeding generation of bacteria, but I doubt the differences could be viewed as any kind of progressive evolution of the species of bacteria. I think people tend to think of human evolution differently, in that they believe humanity to be the pinnacle or end result of a long progression in the evolution of life on earth. But is there really any validity to that? Is there really any scientific basis for thinking of evolution as a progressive process, of which were are the leading edge, or are we really more like an overgrown bunch of bacteria--very egotistical bacteria--that is actually no more "advanced" in any scientifically significant sense then any other creatures?

-- posted by Andrzej406