Evolution... how?!

[GCapp]

Okay, this is the way I understand the theory of evolution.

Individual organisms do not evolve, but rather, pass on a minor alteration to their offspring. Over hundreds of generations, changes become evident between the being at the beginning and one at the end of this line. e.g., the evolutionists' belief that apes gave way to human beings.

I further understand, then, that evolutionists believe that all life now on the Earth evolved from a simple single-celled organism that was the first life to evolve.

This is what evolutionists believe, is this so? Then I continue.

Single-celled organisms reproduce by splitting into two cells, which then each part company and go on their merry way to absorb nutrients and eventually split again or die or be consumed.

Human beings have billions of cells in their bodies which have differentiated into the varied functions: nerve cells, blood cells, brain cells, bone cells, etc. The cells are organized into specialized organs that perform specific functions. One set of organs is devoted specifically to nurturing, protecting and delivering the individual cells that are necessary to produce offspring.

Now, how did single-celled organisms manage to have differentiated cells, complementary between male and female, in a structure that would enable sexual reproduction? If single celled organisms evolved into million-plus-celled beings with differentiated cells and organ structures, reproducing sexually, how did they make the transition? If it takes hundreds or thousands of generations to evolve, how did they reproduce before their sex organs became discrete and functional, and along two different paths (male and female)?

How would such a being reproduce before the sex organs were functional? - I can't imagine a human being splitting into two beings successfully, with full and bloodless duplication and separation of all the irregularly-arranged internal organs. I really would like someone from the evolution camp to explain this to me so that we can appreciate the theory much better.

GCapp

 

[Sphere]

You're almost there. Keep doing your research.

 

[Talcos Stormweaver]

Individual organisms do not evolve, but rather, pass on a minor alteration to their offspring. Over hundreds of generations, changes become evident between the being at the beginning and one at the end of this line. e.g., the evolutionists' belief that apes gave way to human beings.

Nearly right, however, evolutionists do not believe apes gave way to human beings. Rather yet, they are both offshoots of an ancestor species.

I further understand, then, that evolutionists believe that all life now on the Earth evolved from a simple single-celled organism that was the first life to evolve.

The evolution of all life on earth through a single-celled organism is not evolution. It is the theory of Abiogenesis. Abiogenesis states this, in order to explain the creation and diversification of all life on Earth.

Now, how did single-celled organisms manage to have differentiated cells, complementary between male and female, in a structure that would enable sexual reproduction? If single celled organisms evolved into million-plus-celled beings with differentiated cells and organ structures, reproducing sexually, how did they make the transition? If it takes hundreds or thousands of generations to evolve, how did they reproduce before their sex organs became discrete and functional, and along two different paths (male and female)?

How would such a being reproduce before the sex organs were functional? - I can't imagine a human being splitting into two beings successfully, with full and bloodless duplication and separation of all the irregularly-arranged internal organs. I really would like someone from the evolution camp to explain this to me so that we can appreciate the theory much better.

This may seem a bit evolutionist, but there is a link to a website which is devoted to explaining it:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/sex/index.html

More specifically, this topic in particular is discussed here:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/sex/advantage/index.html

It should give you all of the information you need on the likely answers that evolutionists have to provide in an easy to read format. If you have any particular questions after reading through the document, please post them.

 

[SplitRock]

To answer part of your question, single-celled organisms do not necessarily live on their own but often live in large colonies. This includes bacteria as well as eukaryotes. In many cases, the different members of a colony perform different functions (such as reproduction), even though the members of the colony are not technically part of "one" organism. Some examples include: slime-mold, volvox, Portuguese man-of-war. You can consider these critters to be intermediate between single-celled loners and multicellular organisms.

As far as our ancestors are concerned, our close ancestors would be mammals, and would therefore reproduce sexually. Single-celled critters can often exchange DNA without being multicellular like us... so, exchanging DNA probably occurred before sexual reproduction.

Hope that helps answer some of your questions.