[Speciation has been observed: http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/faq-speciation.html ]
This is all about semantics - it depends on your definition of species. A Lion and Tiger can mate and create a Liger. "Wow! We have a new species!" the evolutionists say.
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Biologists, believe it or not, have heard of Ligers. They are one example in a list of sterile animals produced by <<drum roll please>> CLOSELY RELATED SPECIES. Since the Tiger and the Lion (although still capable of interbreeding) are indeed different species the Liger is sterile.
Sterile crossbreeds are EVIDENCE IN SUPPORT of evolution.
Anonymous coward: Yes, you are right. My coffee (and the spelling is evident of this) has not yet kicked in
LabRat: You too is also be the right.
Good day for rightness.
Yeah, you read that link, didn't you, Collingridge?
Fundies. It's like they are allergic to learning.
it depends on your definition of species
The scientists' definition of species is the only one we have. Creationists refuse to be pinned down, so they can keep moving the target every time new research shows them to be full of it.
Well scientists go with the proper definition of species "a population that can pro-create and produce healthy fertile offspring." Since a liger is sterile it cannot be considered a new species.
Fundies however use their own definition of species that is known to change given the circumstance of the argument.
Silly fundie. He wants to complain that his goalposts are stationary, but the field keeps moving under them.
The problem with dealing with people this stupid is that they assume everyone else is just as stupid as they are, so they really think this BS is convincing!
You know, you have a point. Sometimes, scientists do have problems identifying species and drawing lines. Know why? Because, sometimes the species line is really blur. I wonder why that would be, unless there were *gasp* small changes happening over time?
You're just giving fodder for evolution, and probably not even meaning to. In fact, your example, the liger, is a perfect example of why evolution is much more likely, since they're not 'perfectly separated kinds' as bible-thumpers would like to think...
We need to determine once and for all, if "humanzees" can be bred.
That may stifle some of the debate.
Uhm no, your wrong. Cross breeding and evolution are completely different things. Also: the new organism has to be able to procreate and, as you and I both know, Ligers are sterile.
Sorry D. but it appears that your just a moron, not a special moron or even a semi-intelligent person, nope: just a moron. My proof? You spend your time talking on Amazon dot com forums and make unsubstanciated claims about widely accepted theories in an attempt to prove your own completely baseless and not-scientifically-supported ideas.
PS: I know the last bit was completely uncalled for, but there's only so much stupid I can take in a given day and this knocked me over the limit (half a minute on FSTDT? Wow, a new personal record).
PS2: For the love of all things intelligent (except "Intelligent" Design, that is)! Can someone please get the bloody edit function working again? Please? I'll sell my soul to the Giant Spaghetti Monster if I have to, even!
Ahahahaa...no. Ligers usually cannot mate. Animals born of parents of two different species are usually born sterile with few exceptions. The same thing happens with mules. (Donkey/horse cross) No reproduction = no evolution.
Biology lession: Animals that have the same genus can mate and produce offspring, but only animals that are of the same SPECIES can produce FERTILE offspring.
Basically, infertile babies is nature's way of saying "NO."
So no evolutionary scientist in his right mind would call a liger or even a mule a "species."
Confused?
So were we! You can find all of this, and more, on Fundies Say the Darndest Things!
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