If evolution is just a theory, and now with the evidence of DNA, why is it still being taught in our schools?

Question

If man came from monkey why does'nt our DNA 's come close in matching or ever will match?

Answer 1

You don't understand the definition of a theory and a fact do you? I presume, judging from your words, you believe that a theory is essentially a conjecture, a guess, that sort of thing? Well, you thought wrong.

Scientific definitions and mathematical definitions are far different and more precise than everyday language. For us, a salt is that white stuff that preserves foods and gives the food, obviously enough, that "salty" taste. In chemistry, a salt is any ionic compound formed by anions and cations so that the net charge of the compound is neutral.

In that same manner, a theory is not just a "guess." Theories and facts are not rungs on a ladder of credibility - they complement each other. Theories are really models for explaining a series of natural phenomena, backed by strong evidence. Theories explain facts. Again, they are not "guesses."

And, in that manner, evolution is both a theory AND a fact. There is the theory of evolution, which explains it, and there is the fact of evolution. This is similar to the theory of gravity; how the theory explains the fact that gravity exist, and the reason why apples fall down and hit us on the head.

There is plenty of evidence to support evolution and it is a strongly-backed theory. Also, all theories are incomplete and subject to revision. That applies to all theories - not just evolution. The atomic theory expanded over the last century as the Bohr model evolved into the current electron-cloud model.

Also, another misconception to clear up - there is nothing proven in science; there is just evidence to support it.

Also, people who criticize evolution often forget that it doesn't deal with the origin of life, it is NOT random, that the concept of uniformitarianism in science make evolution valid, etc.

I suggest you read a little.

Answer 2

Well apparently it was not taught in *your* school.

In two sentences you made 4 glaring errors about evolution.

1. You say it is "just a theory" as if that diminishes it. It is a "theory" in the same sense as relativity theory, quantum theory, plate tectonic theory, germ theory of disease, atomic theory, the theory of gravity, etc. etc. etc. Unless you want to take all of these "just a theory"s out of schools, you're just being an idiot.

2. The evidence of DNA dramatically confirms evolution, it does not contradict it.

3. Man did not come from monkeys. (Why do creationists get that wrong *every single* time? )

4. Our DNA *does* match other primate DNA *very* closely.

----- P.S. -----
For people who say "scientists are idiots" ... what do you do for a living that makes you think you are actually *smarter* about relativity than Einstein? Know more about astrophysics than Hawking, do you? Understand genetics better than Mendel, McClintock, Watson, and Crick? All idiots?

The odds are high that you (who wrote "scientists are idiots") owe your life and health to a branch of science called 'medicine'. (Ever hear of a scientist named Jonas Salk? ... probably not, because he developed the polio vaccine, which was so successful that people today can go "Polio? What's that?!") And 100% of the people reading this can do so because scientists discovered things called 'electrons' (you may have heard of them) that make your computer work! (Talk about a waste of electrons.)

If you can't make a case for creationism without open hostility towards scientists ... then creationism is clearly a one-way ticket into darkness.

Answer 3

First, man didn't "come from monkey." Man and great apes (chimpanzees, bonobos, orangutans, gorillas) evolved from a similar ancestor. Second, humans and chimpanzees share 99% of the same DNA. Evolution as a whole is not really a theory. It's pretty much fact. Exactly how it happened is the theory, but we do know it happened in some form or another.

Answer 4

You don't consider the 95% match between humans and chimps to be close?

As for "man came from monkey", that's now part of the theory of evolution. The belief is that man and apes decended from a common ancestor and we parted ways in the distant past.

As far as teaching theory, you are thinking of the vernacular meaning of theory, not the scientific meaning.

They also teach Atomic Theory in the physics department, Number Theory in the math department, and Business Theory in the B-school. No one denys that atoms, numbers or business don't exist.

Answer 5

Gravity is also just a theory. Please step out of a sixth-floor window. You don't have to worry about a theory.

You obviously don't know the practical and technical meaning of "theory."

As to DNA, human and chimpanzee DNA match to between 92 and 98 percent, depending on which source I read. If not for human ego, and based on DNA evidence, the human genus classification would actually be "pan," and not "homo."

It's still being taught in schools because it is correct, based on science. The only reasons to disbelieve in evolution are based on religion, which is largely ossified superstition.

Answer 6

THE THEORY OF EVOLUTION DOES NOT STATE, NOR DID IT EVER STATE, THAT HUMANS EVOLVED FROM MONKEYS!!!!!!!!!! We co-evolved along side with them. There is a HUGE difference. Nobody would questions that cats are related to tigers. Dogs are related to wolves. We are related to the monkeys. We did not come from them, but we came from a COMMON ANCESTOR. All of this comes from fossil records, embryology, DNA comparisons, homologous structures, etc. There is an overwhelming amount of evidence that suggests evolution occurs. This is why it is taught in our schools.

Answer 7

Excellent statements in all the other answers, but I don't believe anybody actually answered the question. It was "...why is it being taught in our schools".

Holy cripes--haven't you heard of the separation of church and state?

If a private school decides not to teach evolution, so be it; it's a PRIVATE school. But all public schools (owned by the state) are forbidden from teaching anything about religion, and you don't get much more religious than the idea of creationism.

And as far as the "theory" part of your question, everyone else said it better. I'm giving you the legal reason and answer to the actual question posted.
Cheers!

Answer 8

Public schools teach what they think is the most current. After a while they will see evolution doesnt exist and find another idea. Its like when schools taught the geocentric theory and people had the same reactions (against vs. approve) Most believed what the schools said... sadly it was wrong. People will do anything to avoid having to live up to God.

Answer 9

> "Shouldnt public faculties coach evolution as concept? extremely than actuality?" You recommend like the concept that the earth orbits the daylight (the heliocentric concept of the photo voltaic gadget)? Or the concept that viruses and bacteria reason ailment (the germ concept of ailment)? Or the concept that matter is composed of atoms (the atomic concept of matter)? Or the concept that the earth's crust is composed of slowly-transferring continental plates (plate tectonic concept)? > "till they can disprove Creationism and instruct 'evolution' its only a concept so as that they ought to coach little ones that its in uncomplicated phrases a concept." [a million] they have disproved Creationism. [2] evolution is a medical concept, and for this reason can *by no skill* be proved. No medical theories ever can. > "they may also coach little ones what 'concept' skill. hint - it does no longer mean actuality. Its only a guess." Hmm. apparently they did not teach *you* what "concept" skill. It skill "reason behind said phenomena". > "provided that they're so reluctant to teach them the reality of God, are you able to imagine they'd coach them the reality about something?" i'm guessing you oppose the separation of Church and State then? So what info is there that they ought to coach Biblical creationism, and by no skill (as an instance) the Hindu introduction tale? Or That Odin created the earth from Ymir's bones? Or that Amun masturbated the international into existence? or maybe that the Flying Spaghetti Monster conjured the international into existence such as his noodly appendage?

Answer 10

The DNA of our ancestors and humans are 98%-99% identical AND Evolution is NOT at all a theory!