So if I change my behavior can I adapt like a peppered moth?
If the change in your behavior involved changing your pigmentation with make-up! It's not unheard of. The military issues camouflage sticks, for instance.
But the peppered moth is not an example of adaptation. Individual moths don't change color. It is an example of evolution. The species changes color. I realize this is not convenient for your argument. So sorry!
"Evolution" is something that happens when something goes wrong ...
There are some who argue that evolution has selected
for DNA copying errors. It increases variability, which allows for changing environments. In short, what's beneficial today, might be deleterious tomorrow.
... in the cell is selected by its environment (if it is selected). The mutation is preserved if it is further selected by the population and allowed to reproduce. What is gained is often at a price (loss of previously existing trait)
That is so. Whales cannot breathe water, for instance.
this is sometimes referred to as genetic degradation.
More often as TANSTAAFL*!
It can take thousands of years for a population to remove a negative mutation ...
It has been demonstrated mathematically that it
may never be eliminated.
... (much too much time for the evolutionary time frame for ape to man evolution).
Well, it took as long as it took. There is no evidence it happened
too quickly. And I think you are assuming that the evolution to human is a success. It is very possible that we are just about smart enough to destroy ourselves, and not quite smart enough to avoid it.
Perhaps some bug-eyed monsters in a galaxy far, far away will make the transition to intelligent life without the need for any divine salvation.
*There ain't no such thing as a free lunch
