I don't "live" in this forum. I only come check it out occasionally. So I don't know if this question has been covered. If it has, I apologize.
Many Creationists divide evolution into two parts.
"Micro"Evolution is the change within a species, which can be demonstrated, and can be artificially accelerated by the act of man. In fact, this is the basis of most animal husbandry, hybrid botany, and even breeding race horses and show dogs. Not only is this easily demonstrable, but there is an example of a man-guided breeding program in the Bible (Genesis 30).
"Macro" Evolution is the creation of new species. The Creationists claim that there is no evidence for "MacroEvolution," and reject it out of hand.
My question is what are mules? [Here I'm using the word "mule" in the generic sense. I mean not only mules proper (horse-donkey interbreeds) but also hinneys (donkey-horse interbreeds), as well as various combinations of other equines (e.g. horse-zebra) and also of non-equine interbreeds, such as the tiglon and the liger, etc. In each case, the parent animals appear to be related, but can only produce offspring together with difficulty, and the offspring are usually sterile.] Are they not evidence of the creation of new species through "macro" evolution? There was once a equine species that has split into horse, donkey, and zebra. There was once a panther species that split into tiger, lion, jaguar and leopard, etc.
And what about a Ring species? This occurs when a large population of a species starts spreading into new territory while still active in the the old territory. (It just becomes more spread out and more numerous.) and there is a large obstacle in the new territory, like a lake, a canyon or a mountain.
As the species continues to spread, the group on one side of the obstacle lose contact with the group on the other side. Both continue to interact (and interbreed) with the parent group at the bottom end of the obstacle. When the two groups finally meet up again at the opposite end of the obstacle, they can not interbreed, or they can, but produce mules. Each can freely interbreed with the group on the side of the obstacle they came from, and both side groups can freely interbreed with the parent group.
Are they still one species because of their common ancestry? Or because there is an unbroken chain of interbreeding? If the parent population were to be suddenly wiped out, would the remaining populations suddenly become separate species? Or are they an example in the real, modern, observable world, of "macro" evolution?
Many Creationists divide evolution into two parts.
"Micro"Evolution is the change within a species, which can be demonstrated, and can be artificially accelerated by the act of man. In fact, this is the basis of most animal husbandry, hybrid botany, and even breeding race horses and show dogs. Not only is this easily demonstrable, but there is an example of a man-guided breeding program in the Bible (Genesis 30).
"Macro" Evolution is the creation of new species. The Creationists claim that there is no evidence for "MacroEvolution," and reject it out of hand.
My question is what are mules? [Here I'm using the word "mule" in the generic sense. I mean not only mules proper (horse-donkey interbreeds) but also hinneys (donkey-horse interbreeds), as well as various combinations of other equines (e.g. horse-zebra) and also of non-equine interbreeds, such as the tiglon and the liger, etc. In each case, the parent animals appear to be related, but can only produce offspring together with difficulty, and the offspring are usually sterile.] Are they not evidence of the creation of new species through "macro" evolution? There was once a equine species that has split into horse, donkey, and zebra. There was once a panther species that split into tiger, lion, jaguar and leopard, etc.
And what about a Ring species? This occurs when a large population of a species starts spreading into new territory while still active in the the old territory. (It just becomes more spread out and more numerous.) and there is a large obstacle in the new territory, like a lake, a canyon or a mountain.
As the species continues to spread, the group on one side of the obstacle lose contact with the group on the other side. Both continue to interact (and interbreed) with the parent group at the bottom end of the obstacle. When the two groups finally meet up again at the opposite end of the obstacle, they can not interbreed, or they can, but produce mules. Each can freely interbreed with the group on the side of the obstacle they came from, and both side groups can freely interbreed with the parent group.
Are they still one species because of their common ancestry? Or because there is an unbroken chain of interbreeding? If the parent population were to be suddenly wiped out, would the remaining populations suddenly become separate species? Or are they an example in the real, modern, observable world, of "macro" evolution?
