Evolution: What the Fossils Say (by Donald Prothero)

Is evolution a fact? How do the claims of creationists stack up against the fossil record and the actual science? Dr. Donald Prothero presents the evidence in a presentation based on his 2007 book (and more recent findings).
Prothero is a paleontologist, geologist, author and science educator. He holds a Ph.D in geological sciences from Columbia University, and he has authored over 300 scientific papers and 30 books. He is currently a research associate in vertebrate paleontology at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.
www.donaldprothero.com

[@quantumrobin4627]

My wife said, “I didn’t come from a monkey”, so I asked her to watch this with me, she now understands the actual theory 😉🤟🏼

[@whatabouttheearth]

Have her study this video series, I use it as an educational guideline along with books like 'History of Life' 5th edition by Richard Cowen (6th edition is expensive, 4th is about $15-$20 used) and books on Vertebrate Paleontology and Evolution, and Geology (I got 'Essentials of Geology' by Stephen Marshak used for $7. and 'Roadside Geology of ' is a good series of local geology that you can go drive to) kzbin.info/aero/PLXJ4dsU0oGMLnubJLPuw0dzD0AvAHAotW

[@hk-1290]

So she never thrown shit at people or a wall ever I have 😉😉 HA-HA 🤣..

[@warren52nz]

Just to be clear we didn't "come from monkeys" who exist today but monkeys and humans *_definitely_* have a common ancestor from many millions of years ago.

[@Jdelli0916]

Your wife is actually correct. We are not monkeys. Humans and monkeys are primates who share common ancestors that can be traced nearly 8 million years ago.

[@engima3196]

We didn't come from monkeys, they are our cousins. Fact.

[@mollywatch]

I love it that there were so few people in the room where this extraordinary presentation was made originally, and yet I saw it for the first time tonight just like they did. What a wonderful time to be alive.

[@raysalmon6566]

The evolutionary trees that adorn stile textbooks have data only at the tips and nodes of their branches: the rest is inference. however reasonable, not the evidence of fossils. Yet Darwin was so wedded to gradualism he wagered his entire theory on a denial of this literal word: The geological record is extremely imperfect and this fact will to a large extent explain why we do not find interminable varieties. connecting together all the extinct and existing forms of life by the finest graduated steps. He who rejects these views on the nature of the geological record, will rightly reject my whole theory. Darwin's argument still persists as the favored escape of most paleontologists from the embarrassment of a record that seems to show so little of evolution directly. In exposing its cultural and methodological roots. UHM 439 Darwinian Revolution

[@mollywatch]

@@raysalmon6566 Thank you for reminding me of this excellent video. As for your inane reply: go practice your copy and paste denial elsewhere. Maybe find a video that has FEWER than 7k responses and engage with people who have responded WITHIN THIS DECADE perhaps. Idiot.

[@juanausensi499]

@@raysalmon6566 "The evolutionary trees that adorn stile textbooks have data only at the tips and nodes of their branches: " Why do you mean by 'only'? The data is exactly where it is supposed to be.

[@harrisonwitt]

Not only is he such an accomplished author, he is a great speaker too. What a treat, Seth. Thank you.

[@RandallWilks]

Creationist tactics: 1. Lie 2. Lie some more 3. Keep Lying 4. Say "prove it's not true. 5. repeat 6. keep repeating (lies gain credence with repetition)

[@michellepiniella592]

Thank you, Seth, for filming this updated talk by our favorite Paleontologist, Donald Prothero - *Love* his books!

[@brittleann9823]

I’m an ex-Christian, ex-Creationist. I’ve been out for 1 year now, this blew my mind. I love science!! 🧬 🧫 🧪 🔎

[@TshaajThomas]

So easily.

[@paulgarrett4474]

@Andrg catalano 🇷🇺 wrong, bit thanks for playing!! 🤣🤣

[@Justwantahover]

You broke their commandment to never even look at the science and never admit that they are wrong, regardless of how much evidence is against them or how convincing it is. As soon as you break that barrier you look at evolution and then become convinced, through mountains of evidence for evolution. Creationists have created that barrier of willful ignorance for that reason. Evidence will convince if it's strong enough. They try to repress that with their arrogant anti science plea.

[@bradsnelling5122]

@Justwantahover it went 180⁰ the opposite for me. Interesting that both worldviews cannot be true at the same time. Not picking on you specifically, but the anger and unrest of the presenter and these comments should tell us something. It's interesting that no one else has commented that even the mainstream evolution community called this guy out for his falsified data and political tactics.

[@JeffEyges]

@@bradsnelling5122 " anger and unrest of the presenter" You're seeing what you want to see. Also, I'm aware of no one who has "called out" Prothero for any supposed falsification.

[@kelliepatrick519]

It's important to always remember that the Creationist-speaker's goal is not to convince/convert the science-educated people. It's to keep the creation-educated people convinced.

[@bradsnelling5122]

I will confirm that what you believe is untrue. I was graduate level naturalism educated, raised by 100% atheists who idolized their education. One visit to the Grand Canyon left me thinking I was an idiot to have ever fallen for the incorrect worldview.

[@jmike2039]

Five years later and this is still useful as ever.

[@jmike2039]

@Z Ed education is always useful, and people in 2020 still aren't educated

[@brianbrian1769]

What are you idiots talking about? Most of what the man says is "ok?" "Right?" "Alright". And he needs to adjust his meds and slow the fuck down. Fascinating subject ruined by a poor public speaker. Right? Education indeed!

[@z3my4l]

Good usage of multiple cameras and audio quality is excellent. This is a very good example of how to shoot/store/archive a presentation.

[@z3my4l]

Also presentation slides are screen captured, not "filmed". Good.

[@EdwardHowton]

+z3my4l So much yes. It's so annoying when people point to a screen and everybody laughs and you can't see _anything_. So considerate of the people who edited this.

[@jollyjester3923]

Evidence points to Lucy being a type of chimp, not everyone is fooled by this video. "A chance discovery made by looking at a cast of the bones of "Lucy," the most famous fossil remains of the early hominid known scientifically as Australopithecus afarensis, shows that her wrist is stiff, like a chimpanzee's, reported Brian Richmond and David Strait of George Washington University in Washington, D.C." - latimes **chimpanzee, not falling for it If it looks like a chimp, has stiff knuckle-walking wrists like a chimp, then it probably is a chimp. (also has brain size of chimp)

[@jollyjester3923]

"The sacrum and the auricular region of the ilium are shattered into numerous small fragments, such that the original form is difficult to elucidate. Hence it is not surprising that the reconstructions by Lovejoy and Schmid show marked differences (1995, 29:363). In regard to Lucy’s pelvis, Johanson affirmed: Lucy’s wider sacrum and shallower pelvis gave her a smaller, kidney-shaped birth canal, compared to that of modern females. She didn’t need a large one because her newborn infant’s brain wouldn’t have been any larger than a chimpanzee infant’s brain (Johanson, et al., 1994, p. 66). That admission begs the question as to why this fossil was not categorized from the outset as simply a chimpanzee. But this gender declaration poses additional problems for Lucy. As Hausler and Schmid went on to note: “If AL 288-1 was female, then one can exclude this species from the ancestors of Homo because its pelvis is certainly less primitive than the pelvis of Sts 14 [the designation for a specific A. africanus fossil-BH/BT]” (1995, p. 378). Both of the pelvises mentioned display some degree of damage, and both are missing critical parts, but it should be noted that in regard to the Lucy fossil, more than one attempt was made at reconstruction. After various reconstructions of the inlet and midplane of Lucy’s pelvis, along with comparisons to other fossils and modern humans, it became evident that the shape of Lucy’s pelvis was not structured correctly for the eventuality of a birth process. The pelvis was just too narrow to accommodate an australopithecine fetus. Hausler and Schmid noted that Lucy’s pelvis was ridgeless and heart-shaped, which means that “she” was more likely a “he.” They wrote: Contrary to Sts 14 [designation for a specific A. africanus fossil-BH/BT], delivery [of a baby-BH/BT] in AL 288-1 would have been more complicated than in modern humans, if not impossible, due to the protruding promontorium.... Consequently, there is more evidence to suggest that AL 288-1 was male rather than female. A female of the same species as AL 288-1 would have had a pelvis with a larger sagittal diameter and a less protruding sacral promontorium.... Overall, the broader pelvis and the more laterally oriented iliac blades of AL 288-1 would produce more favourable insertion sites for the climbing muscles in more heavily built males..." -Lucy Dethroned, Apologetics Press

[@Truekeks085]

+Dan Cameron did you know the hovinds are scam artists?

[@mechanicmike69onYouTube]

"There is something feeble and a little contemptible about a man who cannot face the perils of life without the help of comfortable myths. Almost inevitably some part of him is aware that they are myths and that he believes them only because they are comforting. But he dare not face this thought! Moreover, since he is aware, however dimly, that his opinions are not rational, he becomes furious when they are disputed." - Bertrand Russell

[@WoollyMittens]

It's all too rare to find lectures recorded well enough to share. Thank you for doing such amazing work Seth!

[@bestman2670]

+Maurice van Creij lol agreed. One of the best videos about Evolution I've seen so far. Would love to share it to others!

[@bestman2670]

***** Can your nigga whip and nae nae?

[@whatabouttheearth]

Whoever shot this video and edited it should get praise, it is really good for such a small local venue, especially with screen shots.

[@teaohar2]

At some level, I knew this, but Prothero's presentation really laid it out very clearly. I did not need to be a convert, but I sure appreciate the clarity and depth of the explanation.

[@raysalmon6566]

Unlike the *creationist* I have seen and studied many of the fossils discussed in this book. In many cases, I have done the basic scientific data collection and published the research myself. Prothero Not really the fossil record is just to small to support any assertions evolution can make

[@barbossa70]

@@raysalmon6566 They literally find tens of thousands of fossils at large sites..Keep treading water Christian

[@TheHydrogen4]

Nice video. I have been wanting to write a book about the subjects touch after the 1h mark, but I find it hard to put it all together in a way that makes sense to people that have never seen the subject before. Dr. Donald Prothero does a very good job doing it. Thank you for sharing.

[@finlarg]

Thank you Seth, for documenting and presenting this excellent presentation so well! I'm going to be sending a number of YECs in this direction, in the hope that some of the information will sink in.

[@InformationIsTheEdge]

I know Dr. Prothero already has a job but I want more of these. I want more of his science lectures. He has less than a dozen, not counting his interviews. I like the man's style.

[@davegearguy]

If you could talk logically to religious people, there would be no religious people.

[@TheThinkingAtheist]

+David Loveland Incorrect. Many of us were reasoned out of unreasonable faith.

[@TheSnoopy1750]

+TheThinkingAtheist Then you weren't a "real" Christian, were you? A real Christian can never be swayed by facts, evidence or logic. :-)

[@TheThinkingAtheist]

+TheSnoopy1750 Like Dan Barker, Matt Dillahunty and so many others, I was all-in. It took awhile to emerge from the Christianity cocoon, but I became convinced by better information and more reasonable arguments. -Seth

[@TheSnoopy1750]

***** I agree. Indoctrination and gullibility can be overcome and I appreciate all the work you, AronRa, Dillahunty and others do in this regard.

[@Chamelionroses]

+TheThinkingAtheist me too. Also how many are now excult members of some cult? It is easy to stereotype labels into groups, create stigmas full of fallacies, and other ideas about conformity. However seeing individual humans and how psychology of the brain works skeptically of one's self is perhaps whole other thing it seems.

[@mark7166]

I had some guy named Ralph Muncaster come to my church just after I'd "come out" to my parents as an evolutionist, and this guy, with a perfectly straight face, told us all that: "the Devil is our enemy; Evolution is our enemy!". I'm actually quite pissed at how long I was lied to in church about evolution (and the validity of the religion in the first place... but that's a different conversation). I spent so much of my life being lied to by people that don't know fuck all. What a bunch of shameless hucksters.

[@lilkitten545]

+Mark Lugg Well, I'm not sure he was lying though, a lot of religious people do actually believe what you wrote and they think that scientists are lying and their book is right (more brainwashed than malicious), not sure if they are denying it or lying to themselves without realizing, but I don't think they are doing it with the full sense of knowing they are lying to others and themselves.

[@mark7166]

Victoria P You're right. Not lying from his perspective. Lying in the sense that they assume it is wrong, and so they tout that as the truth, rather than doing real research and assessing for themselves what's actually true.

[@CustomTies]

+Mark Lugg  Yep, they lied to you and will continue to do so. Luckily only in ;the US

[@mark7166]

***** I completely agree. I mean, I guess I could give over on the evolution issue... I GUESS. However, all the crap about angels and demons and heaven and hell, all without a scrap of evidence to support it... Not to mention the mental gymnastics you have to go through to try and rationalize a loving god willfully allowing people who don't believe in it to be tortured for eternity.... that's crossing a huge line to me, now that I'm on the outside.

[@Blake4014]

+Mark Lugg Welcome to the club dude, I was a believer once. What a mind screw. You really have to do some serious mental gymnastics to make that fairy tale fit in with reality. It just isn't accurate at all.

[@harrisonwitt]

40 years of dealing with creationists. Brave and tolerant man he is.

[@mattbrooker3482]

Seth, thanks for posting this. I'm from a secular background (UK) and grew up accepting evolution, but it's still fascinating to see the sheer weight and depth of evidence that's accumulated since I left school in the 1980's.

[@maxdoubt5219]

Good production. I feel so sorry for creationists. They are really missing out on exciting science. But don't forget what's the best thing about the science of evolution: it helps us evade, avoid and outwit the nastier bits of the process of evolution. We ignored evolution and over-prescribed antibiotics and got deadly super-bacteria. Oops.

[@bradsnelling5122]

Not sure if your worldview view has changed but my enjoyment of "science" has become infinitely more beautiful and compelling since I came out of the darkness of atheism. No need to feel sorry; eternity is too important to pursue the selfish desire of the atheistic worldview. Its shocking how unconvincing this presentation is now that I an able to see Truth.

[@fotmasta]

Absolutely fantastic. Watched every second on the edge of my seat completely enthralled. Which I had him as a teacher.

[@5610winston]

I think the ratio of "likes" to "dislikes" gives us reason for hope.

[@anuradhainamdar8967]

Very eloquently presented, just started reading Dr. Donald Prothero book and am reading it like a whirlwind.

[@Troubleshooter125]

Yet another premium video, Seth. Between pieces like this and AronRa's work, the word about evolution will only get out further and further. _Molte grazie_, bro!

[@gandorthemagnificent1476]

the US is a very odd place. there is no arguments in the UK or Europe against evolution. what the hell is wrong with the schooling there??

[@EdwinLuciano]

+Gandor The Magnificent How much time do you have? Part of the problem is that schools in the US are controlled and funded locally. Part of the problem is the culture of the country itself. Biologist Jerry Coyne likes to say that it.s not that Americans are stupid but that their religion stops them from believing in evolution. But if you look at scores in Mathematics and Geography, for example, you will find we perform poorly as well. Our schools are bad. For a lot of reasons. The schools which are good are as good as the best abroad, but the ones that are bad are pretty bad and there are a lot of them!

[@captaink5217]

Gandor The Magnificent Good question, it's a bad education system that even though there is supposed to be a separation of church and state too much attention is given too religious fundamentalists that complain when evolution is taught in schools so school districts don't teach just so they don't have to hear the complaints. It's horrible that a proper education is being hijacked by the religious nuts here. In the USA we're almost the Christian version of what Saudi Arabia is to Muslims, believe me there's leaders in this country that have been elected that if they had their way they would enact religious laws too just like Muslim countries do, we're really not that far off from that.

[@kathyheitchue6069]

Alot.....

[@censoredaccount3159]

Imbeciles from the UK and Europe have been ideologically subverted. Can you name one form that has ever changed into another form?

[@censoredaccount3159]

@@captaink5217 So schools should also teach that the Tooth Fairy and Santa Claus are real? You're an idiot.

[@TheExMuslima]

Very enlightening. That picture comparing felines and humans in relation to their relatives was eye opening.

[@Christian_Prepper]

*BOTTOM LINE: **_"You don't need every piece of the puzzle to see the answer."_* 52:12 So this is a round-about way of saying the missing fossil evidence to fully prove evolution is unimportant as long as you use imagination & have blind faith in the scientific clergy.

[@kinglyzard]

+Christian Prepper If you look at evolution like a jigsaw puzzle: you don't need every single piece of the puzzle to know that it is obviously a bird or a barn or whatever. The pieces that fit PERFECTLY in place tell the story, in spite of the missing pieces.

[@RandallWilks]

+Christian Prepper Galileo didn't OBSERVE the earth orbiting the sun, he INFERRED it from evidence. In 1633 the religious fanatics of his day, the Inquisition, found him "vehemently suspect of heresy", forced him to recant and disavow his findings under threat of being burned at the stake, just as they had done to Giordano Bruno 50 years before. They banned his books and sentenced him to house arrest for life. Religious zealots of today must deeply resent the fact that they cannot use such tactics. When he died, in 1642 Galileo was denied even the memorial which he so richly deserved and was buried in a back room of the Basilica. His remains were ultimately disinterred in 1737 and reburied with a more fitting monument. In that process, for whatever reason, three fingers and a tooth were removed. Today, the middle finger of his right hand is on display in the Museo Galileo in Florence, Italy. I find it highly fitting that his "Digitus Impudicus" is aimed at those religious dolts who interfere with science.

[@reynahpets7868]

+Randall Wilks its Galileo's way of saying "fuck you" to his persecutors till this day.

[@twstdelf]

Great to have these presentations appropriately shot/cut and mic'd. Thanks Seth! :)

[@christinam6663]

Thank you so much for setting this up with Dr. Prothero and making it available to all! This is wonderful information.

[@censoredaccount3159]

It's a load of mind garbage that's unsupported by scientific facts.

[@poozer1986]

@@censoredaccount3159 care to elaborate? Or are you just vomiting your nonsense wherever you can, then leaving it for others to clear up?

[@TheAlmightyPillock]

One of the best talks I've seen in a while.

[@raysalmon6566]

"scientific naturalism makes the same point by starting with the assumption that science, which studies only the natural, is our only reliable path to knowledge. God who can never do anything that makes a difference, and of whom we can have no reliable knowledge, is of no importance to us" Phillip Johnson not really Prothero thinks anybody who is theist is not a scientist

[@squirt594]

I feel like I've been looking for this presentation my whole life. Thanks.

[@bluelotus542]

Either Prothero is another evolutionary dreamer, or he's trying for the Nobel Prize before he dies.

[@lwmaynard5180]

Dr Protherom is after Nobel fleece prize. ?

[@carlosenriquegonzalez-isla6523]

This guy is phenomenal! In the best tradition of the American Scientists. Thanks for sharing!

[@Hashishin13]

Other than my complaint about the intro, a couple of mispoken things and one or two points that could have been a little bit more clear this is the best overview of evolution I have ever seen. I really like evolution and I've watched dozens of documentaries and utube videos about it too, if you are looking for a video to introduce or clarify evolution then look no further.

[@RandallWilks]

Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) BioInteractive website has a lot of information about evolution, biology, genetics and more that you would find interesting. Among them is the tree part PBS Your Inner Fish series (Your Inner Fish, Your Inner Reptile, Your Inner Monkey) www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/your-inner-fish-series Check them out, then explore the rest of the site.

[@Hashishin13]

Yea I've seen that, its good. This is more concise and I prefer lectures to documentaries sometimes.

[@Tysto]

Absolutely fantastic presentation. Thanks so much. The level of detail is perfect. Just an incredible set of evidence for lineage after lineage. I love it. The evidence is clear and absolutely undeniable to anyone who hasn't closed their mind to science.

[@wynnsimpson]

Thank you for your devotion to science and scientific research!

[@keithrobertson7579]

This is an excellent lecture which I greatly enjoyed (for the most part). It answers very clearly many of the objections religious folk put forth against evolution, in particular the idea that there aren't transitional forms. Perhaps the one thing missing is an account of how natural selection works to answer the objection that "somehow single-celled organisms 'randomly' evolved into humans." (The opposite of "random" is not "designed", it is "causality"; natural selection is a causal process.) But that's okay, this info can be learned elsewhere.

[@garynorthtruro]

Outstanding lecture. Very good audio and video.

[@RandallWilks]

*EVIDENCE FOR EVOLUTION - The Predictive Ability of the Theory.* The best test of any scientific theory is its usefulness as a predictive tool. In that respect, the Theory of Evolution has performed admirably. The Theory of Evolution would predict that, IF birds evolved from dinosaurs, there should be a progression of derived traits in dinosaurs leading up to the origin of birds and that is exactly what we see. Perhaps the most complete transitional sequence in the fossil record is that from dinosaurs to birds. Birds didn’t just evolve from dinosaurs overnight, but the features of birds evolved one by one; first light bones and bipedal locomotion, then feathers, then a wishbone, then more complex feathers that look like quill-pen feathers, then wings. Yes, wings evolved before flight. Just as there are birds today such as ostriches, emus, rheas, etc. that no longer fly, yet still use their wings for other purposes, there were winged theropod dinosaurs that may have used them to shelter young, for mating displays, or intimidating a predator or rival just as do birds of today. Long before wings, the forelimbs of theropods evolved to allow them to reach forward to grasp prey with their claws. Those are the Maniraptors. That movement is exactly the same as that required for flapping wings. Archaeopteryx still had those grasping claws as did other early birds. The young chicks of the Hoatzin still retain them. Claws are also evident on many bird species; Emus, Cassowarys and Kiwis still have them on vestigial wings. Feathers and scales are formed from the same material, keratin. Birds retain scales on their legs; the japanese Silkie chicken has been bred for fully feathered legs, indicating that only slight genetic modification is neccessary. Take alook at an Emu; its legs are exactly what would be expected on a dinosaur. It too, has a useless nub of a wing with an equally useless claw. Vestigial remnants are always confusing to creationists. There is a succession of feathered dinosaur fossils with increasingly bird like characteristics i.e. Xiaotingia, Sinosauropteryx prima, Caudipteryx, Sinovenator and others. Any of these fossils showing such a mix of traits can be considered transitional. The whole lineage of feathered dinosaurs could be considered transitional. The fossil record even shows the stages of feather evolution from simple spikes to down to contour feathers and ultimately to quilled flight feathers. Today we have lots of feathered dinosaur fossils; so many feathered theropod fossils in fact, that most paleontologiosts now think ALL theropods were probably feathered. There were dinosaurs with wings that couldn't possibly fly, like 5 foot 40 pound Zhenyuanlong suni and little ones like Microraptor that could fly. There were a great many almost-birds and not-quite-birds. And birds like Auronis, Archaeopteryx, Shenzhouraptor, Rahonavis, Yandangornis Jixiangornis, Sapeornis, Omnivoropteryx, Confuciusornis and Changchengornis that retain some dinosaur-like features such as teeth and long bony tails. Evolution is NOT a linear process. Many of these species lived at the same time, displaying a matrix of characteristics. Evolution is a natural experiment. Some things work and get perpetuated, others may enjoy brief success before extinction. With so many transitional fossils displaying both bird-like and dinosaur-like features, there is an almost seamless transition from dinosaur to bird (as well as a great number of dead end evolutionary experiments) and it is often difficult to separate the two. Doing so requires statistical analysis of nearly 1000 inherited and derived characteristics.?

[@RandallWilks]

*EVIDENCE FOR EVOLUTION - The Predictive Ability of the Theory - Part II* The best test of any scientific theory is its usefulness as a predictive tool. In that respect, the Theory of Evolution performs admirably. The Theory of Evolution would predict that, IF birds evolved from dinosaurs, there should be a progression of derived traits in dinosaurs leading up to the origin of birds and that is exactly what we see. Perhaps the most complete transitional sequence in the fossil record is that from dinosaurs to birds. Birds didn’t just evolve from dinosaurs overnight, but the features of birds evolved one by one; first light bones and bipedal locomotion, then feathers, then a wishbone, then more complex feathers that look like quill-pen feathers, then wings. Yes, wings evolved before flight. Just as there are birds today such as ostriches, emus, rheas, etc. that no longer fly, yet still use their wings for other purposes, there were winged theropod dinosaurs that may have used them to shelter young, for mating displays, or intimidating a predator or rival just as do birds of today. Long before wings, the forelimbs of theropods evolved to allow them to reach forward to grasp prey with their claws. Those are the Maniraptors. That movement is exactly the same as that required for flapping wings. Archaeopteryx still had those grasping claws as did other early birds. The young chicks of the Hoatzin still retain them. Claws are also evident on many bird species; Emus, Cassowarys and Kiwis still have them on vestigial wings. Feathers and scales are formed from the same material, keratin. Birds retain scales on their legs; the japanese Silkie chicken has been bred for fully feathered legs, indicating that only slight genetic modification is necessary. Take a look at an Emu; its legs are exactly what would be expected on a dinosaur. It too, has a useless nub of a wing with an equally useless claw. Vestigial remnants are always confusing to creationists There is a succession of feathered dinosaur fossils with increasingly bird like characteristics i.e. Xiaotingia, Sinosauropteryx prima, Caudipteryx, Sinovenator and others. Any of these fossils showing such a mix of traits can be considered transitional. The whole lineage of feathered dinosaurs could be considered transitional. The fossil record even shows the stages of feather evolution from simple spikes to down to contour feathers and ultimately to quilled flight feathers. Today we have lots of feathered dinosaur fossils; so many feathered theropod fossils in fact, that most paleontologists now think ALL theropods were probably feathered. There were dinosaurs with wings that couldn't possibly fly, like 5 foot 40 pound Zhenyuanlong suni. There were a great many almost-birds and not-quite-birds, until about 150 million years ago, birds ultimately took flight. Birds or almost birds like Auronis, Archaeopteryx, Shenzhouraptor, Rahonavis, Yandangornis Jixiangornis, Sapeornis, Omnivoropteryx, Confuciusornis and Changchengornis retain some dinosaur-like features such as teeth and long bony tails. Evolution is NOT a linear process. Many of these species lived at the same time, displaying a matrix of characteristics. Evolution is a natural experiment. Some things work and get perpetuated, others may enjoy brief success before extinction. Any organism that can exploit a new environment or food source has an evolutionary advantage.When birds took to the air it vastly expanded their ability to move through and into new environments and rapid diversification followed. With the demise of the dinosaurs, many environmental niches were opened to mammals and birds and again, rapid diversification followed in both groups. With so many transitional fossils displaying both bird-like and dinosaur-like features, there is an almost seamless transition from dinosaur to bird (as well as a great number of dead end evolutionary experiments) and it is often difficult to separate the two. Doing so requires statistical analysis of nearly 1000 inherited and derived characteristics. Lest you think of evolution as being a linear process, feathered non-avian dinosaurs continued to pursue differing evolutionary paths. About 25 million years after the origin of birds saw new evolutionary experiments in Microraptors, four winged dromeosaurs with pinnaceous flight feathers on both arms and legs that were capable of gliding and possibly powered flight as well. Their fossils indicate that for a while at least, they were quite successful. There are some 300 of these fossil 'experiments' in museum collections around the world. The Theory of Evolution makes numerous predictions about which intermediate forms should be found and in which geologic layers they should be found. Those predictions are repeatedly confirmed by new fossil discoveries

[@censoredaccount3159]

Can you name one form that has ever changed into another form?

[@hippopotamus6765]

@@censoredaccount3159 Fish to Human. Hippo to Whale. Dinosaur to Bird.

[@shanedavenport734]

What an amazing presentation. Thank you so much for bringing it to us.

[@quantumman1910]

Great lecture, I learned a lot about the fossil evidence for evolution. Very interesting part about Acanthostega and Ichthyostega. I knew about Tiktaalik but not those two

[@mikeyoung7660]

Just bought the book. I'm looking forward to reading it. Donald is awesome. I love listening to him, a man of great knowledge.

[@HexerPsy]

Excellent and comprehensive lecture. Seth! You just recorded the mother of all evidence for evolution lectures on youtube!

[@galaxybounce1002]

This guy is such a good speaker! Could listen to him endlessly.

[@henrikrolfsen584]

As described in Google: "Evolution by way of Natural Selection, is a process by which Individuals, with the most favorable traits, survive and reproduce". . . . I am pretty sure most scientists would agree.

[@Cybernaut551]

I used my education on scientific evolution and method to bring me on both exhilarating empirical plus reasonable track. Thanks for the info, keep going for your own positive goals!

[@ThisIsMeOnYoutube]

What a breath of fresh air instead of the hot air that the creationists spew.

[@theonuss6607]

What a way to procrastinate at work.

[@junacebedo888]

Atheists Scientists met God: A.S.: We can create life without you. God: Go on, show it how A.S.: (began preparing dirt and other stuffs) God: Wait a minute. Get your own dirt.

[@stylesistersnyc600]

This presentation reminds me so much of the show "My Inner Fish" (I think the presenter references the Scientist who Narrated the show when discussing the Tiktaalik)... Great show...

[@whatabouttheearth]

Neil Shubin, yeah, he said Shubin was his "mentor"

[@JacquesEurope]

Thanks for sharing Seth! I hope the people who should watch this will do so. I also hope the US will find its path away from bronze age thinking.

[@dennisfraser7628]

Mark Twain religion started when the first conman met the first fool.

[@oldpossum57]

Interesting that scientific thinking in the USA is as unpopular as it is in the theocratic states that the Americans love to belittle.

[@ReverendHowl]

If there are evolutionismists why are there still creationalisers?

[@davidbutler1857]

Homeschooling

[@ReverendHowl]

I home educate. Please don't conclude from the deliberate ridiculous spelling in my comment or from my KZbin identity that I can not read, spell or think, or that I am unfit to guide and facilitate my children's education. I live in the UK. One of the reasons my co-parents and I home educate is the compulsory act of daily collective worship which is legally required in British schools (Education Act 1944). That said, David Butler, your reply is probably correct and I heartily agree.

[@sundiver137]

It's really insecurity. These creoturds are not very smart and deep down they know it. The result is they gibber stupidly trying to sound smart when they have NO idea what they are saying.

[@biglazyhunt]

An excellent talk. Thank you Seth for making it happen!

[@Rico-Suave_]

Amazing presentation, Watched all of it again 1:21:02

[@nobunaga240]

Excellent lecture which describes evolution very clearly

[@mikecarson101]

LoL! God created everything in 6 days.

[@RandallWilks]

Creationists continually make assertions that evolution has been disproved. The problem is that they never back it up with any evidence. Since they have failed to do so, I will list ALL EVIDENCE THAT REFUTES EVOLUTION: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5., etc., etc. FACT: THERE IS NO EVIDENCE TO REFUTE EVOLUTION. Creationists have been trying to do so for 150 years and are further from that goal than ever. Not having any facts to support such a contention has not deterred them from lying.

[@broken7025]

Great content. This is the kind of material that is so important to get out there. Thanks again Seth for great production value.

[@johnnydark6876]

one of the best presentations i have ever watched.

[@gooesmoo9850]

Very educational and fascinating. As an American I find the charts showing science literacy levels to be disturbing.

[@RandallWilks]

From the National Academy of Sciences: *“The concept of biological evolution is one of the most important ideas ever generated by the application of scientific methods to the natural world. The evolution of all the organisms that live on earth today from ancestors that lived in the past is at the core of genetics, biochemistry, neurobiology, physiology, ecology, and other biological disciplines. It helps to explain the emergence of new infectious diseases, the development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria, the agricultural relationships among wild and domestic plants and animals, the composition of the earth's atmosphere, the molecular machinery of the cell, the similarities between human beings and other primates, and countless other features of the biological and physical world. As the great geneticist and evolutionist Theodosius Dobzhansky wrote in 1973, ‘Nothing in biology makes sense except in light of evolution’.”*

[@markpapa.3711]

Evolution is a load of rubbish. Only the ignorant believe in it.

[@latamuse7969]

Watching this from India. A wonderful lecture. It is scary to see such science denial in the USA. Glad he closed with words of hope. The economic, military and environmental policies adopted by the US government had better be scrutinized by a more scientifically-literate population.

[@harrygearhart4520]

Thanks Donald, I'm not a paleontologist by any means but just a few nudges from people like you, drives this wedge deeper and deeper between the Christian movement and REAL SCIENCE!!!!! I wish someone could drive a bigger wedge between ICR and science, even if it has to be the government. There needs to be a law to teach something that is false. Think about this!!!! ICR is making our children dumb.

[@pop5678eye]

Creationists are lazy readers and hence they assume everybody else is also a lazy reader. They assume biologists only ever read Darwin's 'ONE' book and worship him as an inerrant prophet. Biologists have evolved their thinking and methods in multiple revolutionary ways since Darwin (most famously genetics) and don't cling to outdated models. Compare that to creationists who have never read modern biological textbooks, have never even read Darwin's outdated book but merely old and outdated list of arguments against him. Heck most creationists never read their own Bible either and merely put up arguments for it that are not even supported by their own 'inerrant' books!

[@bradsnelling5122]

I think the same is true in both the Christian worldview and everything else. Sadly you are right about that, but there are some extremely careful, studied and conscientious Christians who can agree with your statement on the inerrancy of Scripture and show that to anyone that is honest.

[@luminyam6145]

Wonderful lecture! Thank you so much Seth, I really enjoyed this.

[@censoredaccount3159]

What did you enjoy more? The lies or the mind garbage he vomited?

[@neilbeaton9498]

@@censoredaccount3159 Let me guess... you don't believe in evolution and you think the earth is flat?

[@WilbertLek]

@@neilbeaton9498 Apparently he is just a dumb troll, pissed off at reality. Where thing constantly keep changing, and he can't handle that... It's hard to deal with, but to resort to utter madness...... Some people....

[@poozer1986]

@@censoredaccount3159 oh dear. Bitter theists do make me laugh.

[@RandallWilks]

*The American Association for the Advancement of Science statement on evolution:* *"Evolution is one of the most robust and widely accepted principles of modern science. It is the foundation for research in a wide array of scientific fields and, accordingly, a core element in science education. The AAAS Board of Directors is deeply concerned, therefore, about legislation and policies recently introduced in a number of states and localities that would undermine the teaching of evolution and deprive students of the education they need to be informed and productive citizens in an increasingly technological, global community. Although their language and strategy differ, all of these proposals, if passed, would weaken science education. The AAAS Board of Directors strongly opposes these attacks on the integrity of science and science education. They threaten not just the teaching of evolution, but students’ understanding of the biological, physical, and geological sciences."*

[@octopus9421]

So very well done, Seth. Great work. Thank you!

[@octopus9421]

+No Name That wasn't the intent here, but if your interested in how we evolved from fish, try watching "Your Inner Fish" for starters. www.pbs.org/your-inner-fish/home/

[@differdog9354]

My mother told me that she knitted me. I have held onto this belief for the past 40 years. Evolution indicates that my mother was wrong. I cannot accept this. The creationists must have the same problem!

[@gemguy6812]

God knitted you, not your mom. Scienists have discovered that a flash of visible light occurs once the sperm penetrates the egg, pretty cool stuff. Praise the Lord!

[@RandallWilks]

+Gem Guy Horseshit!!! Pure unadulterated HORSESHIT! You and your ilk will promulgate any lie you think some other dumb shit will swallow. The average person is not very smart, but the really scary thing is that half the population is even more stupid than that. Those are the ones who swallow crap like that.

[@gemguy6812]

Randall, calm down- you want to see the photos of these flashes of light upon conception? Secular science has it's rescuing device as they always do- but we in the unwashed masses see the "light" upon conception as the work of God.

[@differdog9354]

+Gem Guy Who knitted God? Also, who put that camera where it shouldn't be. Can you direct me to the pictures of this amazing phenomenon.

[@gemguy6812]

we know time, space, and matter began to exist- therefore God was outside of time, space, and matter, or outside of nature-supernatural, if you will. God didn't need a cause or a knitter. www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2016/04/26/bright-flash-of-light-marks-incredible-moment-life-begins-when-s/

[@She_Wonders]

Holy shit, that gigantic rhino/tapir thing is terrifying!

[@JacksonWheat]

Wow, this video was so amazing and well done. It makes me wonder how there could still be creationists in the world.

[@BillyBike416]

"Wow, this video was so amazing and well done. It makes me wonder how there could still be creationists in the world." Let's see... You can't tell me where it began You can't tell me when it began You can't tell me how it began You can't make it happen in a computer simulation You can't tell us what the first 100 chemical reactions were that produce a protein You can't by natural means alone reproduce those first 100 reactions You can't tell me why the supposed apex of evolution (Man) produced the only animal that commits suicide You can't identify the millions of missing fossils between extant fossils The proposed steps of evolution may well be correct but it is exceedingly difficult to look at a plan and not see the hand of a planner.

[@bradsnelling5122]

Just think about the massive assumptions this man makes to attempt justification of his worldview. I used to believe all of this bunk but it's so obvious that it's only possible to see how atheists can have this amount of faith other than recognizing their selfish pride.

[@are_you_serious5188]

"If People are good because they fear punishment and hope for reward, then we are a sorry lot indeed.” - Albert Einstein. "True Morality is doing what is right without the threat of divine retribution nor the possibility of divine reward." - Arthur Paliden

[@bobphin6454]

Einstein wanted reward and no punishment. Did he want to be labeled a crackpot, and sent to a concentration camp? No i think not. No shame in wanting to be praised and not harassed.

[@RandallWilks]

+Bob Phin What you have demonstrated is that you don't know jack shit about Einstein, history or science. Your failure to engage your brain has stripped you of credibility.

[@are_you_serious5188]

+Randall Wilks Couldn't have said it better myself.

[@whatabouttheearth]

"If the only thing keeping somoeone decent is the threat of eternal damnation than brother, that person was a piece of shit in the first place" - Detective Rust Cohle, True Detective

[@nickmooney776]

Dear Mr. Andrews, I want you to know how much I apprecieate your work exposing the horrible effects that religious beliefs have caused men to suffer unimaginable point . I am eighty years old and have not recovered to the point where I am living a comfortable life.

[@RandallWilks]

The Theory of Evolution is perhaps the most thoroughly tested theory in science, yet if one fossil were to be discovered out of its predicted place in the fossil record, such as a pre-Cambrian fish or a mammal in the Carbonaceous, the theory would be in serious jeopardy.

[@SteveFrenchWoodNStuff]

I somehow missed this one in my feed. This was a great presentation. And I saw Aron Ra in the audience.

[@markopajovic1789]

excellent lecture...

[@johns294]

Don is the man. Clear, concise, and understandable for anyone who decides to be intellectually honest in their quest to understand evolution. Looking forward to your next video.

[@doctorwebman]

I am grateful that I no longer subscribe to any creationist nonsense. Even as a teenage Christian creationist, I knew nothing about creationist arguments, with the exception of one argument for the Noachian deluge that was presented at a Christian youth conference. It was argued that the great ocean rift was evidence for the flood. I actually once repeated the argument, not realizing how incredibly ignorant and stupid it was. I was even ignorant enough to believe the Earth was created six-thousand years ago. It took years to undue the damage that religion did to my understanding of reality. I am no longer religious, and have been an atheist since 2007.

[@Colin12475]

Hey, did you hear of the creationist who won a Nobel Prize after thoroughly disproving evolution? No, neither have I.

[@RandallWilks]

Nor did I.

[@sundiver137]

Watching a creationist trying to do science reminds me an orangutan trying to play a violin, to borrow a jibe from Honore de Balzac.

[@censoredaccount3159]

Hey, did you hear about the multitude of evolutionists who have lied over the years to propagate their delusional fantasy? Plug these titles into your search engine for proof: **the fraud of evolution - trumpet** **a multimillion dollar monkey fraud - trumpet** And these vids are just HILARIOUS: **Watch "Richard Dawkins stumped by creationists' question (RAW FTGE)" on KZbin** **Watch "The Religious Myth called "Evolution", exposed as blind faith in PhD psyentists and their guesses" on KZbin**

[@louisbarbisan8471]

Davon Bertoli. And what have you got to prove that creation is the truth? Do you think all of the science community is lying? Get a life and start to investigate for yourself.

[@haroonhussein9770]

who told you that all of the scientific fraternity believe in evolution Get a life please and really investigate .

[@martymcmannis9121]

Louis Barbisan , I have seen the truth.

[@zhasan6561]

@@martymcmannis9121 tell us

[@rinoabutzile]

Really enjoyed it, thank you very much.

[@kjbrownII]

Seth, you do great work.

[@TheMeerkat88]

So refreshing to see someone present the facts of reality and call out creationism for what it is: nonsense.

[@connorcore7008]

It's good to have some "current" information of what's been found in the fossil record. I think a lot of the general public are relying on some very outdated information

[@bradsnelling5122]

The most accurate record may be found in Scripture. It's so obvious to believing thinking scientists and historians.

[@glutinousmaximus]

An excellent presentation - Thanks so much for this!

[@raysalmon6566]

In 2013, ID creationist Stephen Meyer published an entire book on the topic entitled Darwin's Doubt: The Explosive Origin of Animal Life and the Case for Intelligent Design. Most scientists ignored it, but the few who wasted their time reading it lambasted it (Cook 2013; Marshall 2013). "As I wrote in my own review the book is a piece of incompetent scholarship from one end to the other, with mistakes, misstatements, quote mining, cherry-picking of data, ignoring inconvenient facts, and outright lies about the fossil record in nearly every page. yet(Prothero 2013) is doing the same thing here

[@MystrEthaOne]

This was a great presentation. Liked this vid alot.

[@combatives]

Superb presentation, many great points that hopefully Creationists will take away with them.

[@Evidence1]

Why doesn't creationists like +NephilimFree, +G Man, +VekL, +TrueEmpiricism, +Ken Jones, +Sye Ten Bruggencate, +shockofgod, +Richard Raspberry and +Matt Slick watch these videos for education purposes?

[@hannibalvector1369]

+Evidence Because they might learn something.

[@allieron8920]

+Evidence Because their brain cell would explode.

[@scatton61]

+Evidence then they would have to admit that they are wrong. And how will they make a living then???

[@gorillaguerillaDK]

+Stephen Catton They would never admitt that! If the choice stands between evidence and the literate word of the bible, they'll choose the bible at any time!

[@NoName-bf4gk]

Also, about natural selection. My belief about natural selection is that it does exist - anyone who observes the world can see some form of natural selection taking place in nature. However, I don't think natural selection can answer the real question here: How do species change? Oh, it's fine to say "animals changed to be more adapted to their environment" but biologically that doesn't cut it. Perhaps a giraffe used to be a little shorter and gradually the taller ones ousted the smaller ones via natural selection, but natural selection doesn't explain macro-evolution, the way in which a species can just change into another species. There is no evidence of that happening in our world (apple trees don't produce oranges, to state a slightly exaggerated example) so that's why I don't get natural selection as an argument for macro-evolution; another thing I'd say is that all evidence in biology is that mutations are almost always bad, especially when it comes to beings as complex as mammals and reptiles and so on. Again, all of this is my interpretation of evidence - everyone interprets evidence differently.

[@Tridhos]

Great lecture thanks for posting that video.

[@mosiprop]

excellent talk .. excellent production... getting though to thick-headed creationists might not happen very often, but the next generation provides hope,

[@walkergarya]

The lie of creationism cannot be defended without lies.

[@walkergarya]

Positive claims require positive evidence, Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence and claims made without evidence may be dismissed without evidence. What is your evidence?

[@CNCmachiningisfun]

walkergarya Agreed. Those lying god freaks are pathetic!

[@DETBMW]

Great video. Gives lots of good points against creationism.

[@CNCmachiningisfun]

+Alpha Liar Can you PROVE that your god is real? Yes, or No.

[@kayallen7603]

Creation is a story you were taught. There is no EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE for it. NONE. Therefore it is NOT a fact but only an opinion. Evolution is a theory just as Gravity is a theory - a SCIENTIFIC THEORY which means "a tested hypothesis backed up by empirical evidence and thus far not DISPROVEN". Stop imagining that science is some cosy club - it isn't. Science is more like gladiatorial combat where your hypothesis has to take on all comers and win before it even gets to be called a theory. BTW as a quick test: change the words evolution and Darwinism to Gravity and then read the sentences out loud - see what we mean when we call your 'just a theory' defense bullshit? Saying "I don't believe in gravity" makes you sound stupid which would be true.

[@CNCmachiningisfun]

Alpha Beta STOP LYING, you BLOODY IMBECILE. Your god is CRAP, which is why all he can produce is LYING IMBECILES like YOU. Grow the hell up, and STOP LYING, LIAR.

[@CNCmachiningisfun]

Alpha Beta PROVE that creation is true, LIAR. Also, ANSWER MY QUESTION about the Recurring Laryngeal Nerve. You LYING, CLUELESS, BRAIN DEAD, god freaks are PATHETIC.

[@CNCmachiningisfun]

Alpha Beta ANSWER MY QUESTION FIRST, then I will attempt to answer yours. Damn, you god freaks are so arrogant!

[@kzinful]

Thank you Seth for this presentation with Donald Prothero. My only slight is when he stated that many religious leaders believe in evolution, now isn't that the same problem as in Texas (where I live) where in some schools creationism is taught along with evolution? And also : John Lennon said that Paul was the Walrus .." Surely you jest.." " No, I'm a doctor and my name isn't Shirley .." Peace from Texas where when evolution is elevated to the status of football then perhaps their may be hope

[@psycho6542]

exellent a/v team, very well done

[@charlidog2]

I consider every fossil transitional, as is every living thing. In between what it was and what it will become.

[@andrewtall2047]

+charlidog2 Strictly some are likely terminal I guess, but you make a good point. It would have been nice if he'd made the point that the concept of 'species' is now dated, and that the 'disavowal' of transitional fossils that some creationists have started to tout is the recognition by scientists that speciation is not a clean process and that to avoid implying undue accuracy we should talk of 'examples of the sort of form that show the transition' rather than assuming that this must have been the path which was followed rather than one of the innumerable dead-ends that didn't.

[@charlidog2]

Andrew Tall I explain it like this. Every creature's offspring is the same creature as the parent. There is no first anything. Take a picture of yourself every day. Look at two consecutive days and no change is noticed. Look at two 10 years apart and change is obvious. Look through the pictures. What exact date did you stop being a baby, a toddler, a kid, a young adult? There are no clear lines, but changes are taking place. That's how I explain it. Every day is transitional, every generation is too.

[@mechanicmike69onYouTube]

The theory of evolution is one of the most well understood, if not the most well understood and massively well supported scientific concepts known to science. To suggest that there is no evidence in support of the theory is quite literally one of the single most ignorant statements someone can make. If you think there is no evidence then you haven't looked, you've looked in the wrong, likely biased sources or have rejected the evidence presented to you either because it disagrees with your preconceived beliefs or because you don't understand the evidence being presented. The evidence is so great that there is very literally at least as much, if not more evidence demonstrating common ancestry than the fact that George Washington was a living person. This is not my opinion. It's not my opinion versus your opinion where every opinion is equally valid. If your opinion is that it's not true then you are simply wrong. Evolution is a fact, period. You don't have to like it, accept it or even understand it because facts don't change because the ignorant don't understand them. Reality sucks for those that peddle ancient & barbaric ignorance from over 2000 years ago.

[@RandallWilks]

The terms micro and macro with regards to evolution are merely quantitative. There is no mechanism that would halt evolution at any arbitrary point because evolution is ongoing and continuous for all living species. Evolution is molecular in that the random errors that occur during cell division and replication (observed) are the raw material for the genetic variation we see in any population of organisms. If this were not so there would be no value in DNA tests. Each organism varies slightly genetically from its parent. In any population, those offspring who survive long enough to reproduce add their genetic variation to the population gene pool. Those survivors are the ones whose genes best suit them for their current environment. Environmental change will put any population under stress. If there is sufficient genetic variation within the gene pool, successive generations may be able to adapt to new conditions. When a segment (or segments) of a population become genetically isolated from the parent population a new gene pool is thus formed, no longer sharing with the parent gene pool. Random mutations continue as before, but will henceforth be unique to each population, and subject to perhaps different environmental pressures. Over generations, differing mutations continue to accumulate in such populations, reducing the chances of future interbreeding attempts being successful. Speciation thus occurs over a continuum not at some particular point on it. Loss of body hair could be considered 'micro' evolution, as could the development of sweat glands that enabled that loss. Like wise, each of the adaptations to bipedalism; length of muscles, shapes of the femur and other bones enabled further changes to the point where the cumulative effect is 'macro' evolution. Furred animals have to deal with excess body heat, larger animals even more so, which is why elephants, rhinos and other big animals are largely hairless. Most furred animals must dispose of excess heat by panting, which is not that efficient for cooling as compared to sweating. A sweating savanna hominid could move around during the day would have an advantage over animals that needed to seek shade.

[@CNCmachiningisfun]

+Alpha Buttwad There is NO EVIDENCE for the existence of your god. Your imaginary sky daddy doesn't count.

[@RandallWilks]

Sorry, the fact that mutations occur in all organisms is very well understood by biologists and geneticists. It is creationists who formerly denied that evolution was even a thing and have subsequently admitted that SOME evolution does occur who remain willfully ignorant. While now admitting that some evolution takes place their need to conform to religious dogma causes them to continue to deny that life forms change.

[@CNCmachiningisfun]

Alpha Beta You are a deeply FUCK WITTED little god freak. Sucks to be YOU.

[@CNCmachiningisfun]

mechanicmike69 Yeah, those god freaks are pathetic, just as their pissy little MANMADE god wants them to be.

[@DavidStanleymusic]

Fossils do not back up evolution. Best they can do is make a guess.

[@CustomTies]

anyone wanting to defend evolution should watch this it will save you a lot of time, you might even give up trying to teach creationists which will save even more time. If your a creatioists I dare you watch this.

[@danielsoto4131]

Where's this quack been, living under a rock for the past 10 years? Everything this clown said has been totally refuted by DNA evidence and fossil EVIDENCE. Nothing he said is accurate, makes you wonder why half of his argument, instead of being scientific, was an attack on people of faith. That's his entire argument. Lame.

[@RandallWilks]

*EVIDENCE FOR EVOLUTION - Geographic Distribution of Species* As one travels from one isolated landmass, to another, one sees patterns that fit with evolutionary theory. The mammals populating the Australasian landmass (including New Guinea) prior to man's arrival were virtually all Marsupials; kangaroos, wombats, koalas, quolls, thylacenes, et al; found nowhere else in the world, and egg laying Monotremes (Platypus and Echidnas) also found nowhere else in the world. Indeed, prior to the coming of man who brought the dingo, the only placental mammals were those that could swim there (seal) and those that could fly there (bats). It is very obvious that mammalian evolution took a quite different turn in that isolated landmass. New Zealand as well tells of a different evolutionary history. With no native mammals, except again for those able to fly (bats) or swim (seals) there, birds assumed the ecological roles filled by mammals elsewhere. In the absence of ground dwelling predators, many birds abandoned energy consuming flight, the Kakapo, Kiwi and Moa among them. The wing of the kiwi is a mere vestige, no bigger than your little finger, with an equally useless claw at its end. Other isolated islands, Mauritania and Madagascar, also had their own unique flora and fauna, as did geologically recent islands such as the Hawaiian Archipelago. There, the science of comparative genomics shows that another species of finch underwent adaptive radiation into the at one time 55 species of Honey creepers of which only 18 survive. The same is true of many plants whose ancestral seeds found their way to these islands. The many species of the beautiful Hawaiian Silver Sword and their relatives, collectively known as the Hawaiian Silver Sword Alliance, are an example of adaptive radiation in plants over millions of years from an ancestral pacific coast tarweed. We have Polar Bears in the Arctic and Penguins in the Antarctic similar environments totally different biota. Charles Darwin made remarkable observations 150 years ago and since then biologists, geneticists, geologists, biochemists and other related fields have continued to do so and in every case further evidence is accumulated in support of what is now called the Modern Synthesis of Evolution.

[@ziemayet]

But muh holy book. In all seriousness I've seen your comments before. Respect for doing all the research . Even though it's in vain as they'd rather put their fingers in their ears and scream

[@simonrandall5471]

I spotted Aron Ra at 16:08 center of the frame back row!

[@mathewadams2929]

Son of a bitch, youre right!

[@walkergarya]

@@mathewadams2929 Love that guy but it is odd to see him with his mouth shut!

[@georgefleming4956]

Bravo! Well done!