Page 250 - Mary: An Exemplary Muslim Woman
P. 250

248






                      Imaginary Mechanism of Evolution

                   The second important point that negates Darwin's theory is that both
              concepts put forward by the theory as "evolutionary mechanisms" were
              understood to have, in reality, no evolutionary power.
                   Darwin based his evolution allegation entirely on the mechanism of
              "natural selection." The importance he placed on this mechanism was ev-
              ident in the name of his book: The Origin of Species, By Means of Natural
              Selection…
                   Natural selection holds that those living things that are stronger and
              more suited to the natural conditions of their habitats will survive in the
              struggle for life. For example, in a deer herd under the threat of attack by
              wild animals, those that can run faster will survive. Therefore, the deer
              herd will be comprised of faster and stronger individuals. However, un-
              questionably, this mechanism will not cause deer to evolve and transform
              themselves into another living species, for instance, horses.
                   Therefore, the mechanism of natural selection has no evolutionary
              power. Darwin was also aware of this fact and had to state this in his
              book The Origin of Species:
                   Natural selection can do nothing until favourable individual differences or
                   variations occur. 32



                                    Lamarck's Impact

                   So, how could these "favorable variations" occur? Darwin tried to an-
              swer this question from the standpoint of the primitive understanding of
              science at that time. According to the French biologist Chevalier de
              Lamarck (1744-1829), who lived before Darwin, living creatures passed on
              the traits they acquired during their lifetime to the next generation. He as-
              serted that these traits, which accumulated from one generation to anoth-
              er, caused new species to be formed. For instance, he claimed that giraffes
              evolved from antelopes; as they struggled to eat the leaves of high trees,
              their necks were extended from generation to generation.


                          Mary: An Exemplary Muslim Woman
   245   246   247   248   249   250   251   252   253   254   255