Wanna see a new transitional fossil for the creationists to deny?

Question

http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20070321/sc_livescience/jurassiccrocodileunearthedinoregon

Or is bad uncle satan up to his old tricks?

Species bones have particular characteristics. "Bone Experts" see the enormous amount of detail in bones and from there can determine differences not readily visible to the layman. If you have a bone from a group of taxa and examine a particular characteristic, say a protuberance from the femur for example, which exists in different state in an ancestor (size, shape, etc) we can statistically infer an evolutionary relationship. If we then find a bone exhibiting the characteristic in an intermediate state between the two we can test for a significant difference (specific statistical term) among the group.

Answer 1

Fossils are great.

But all the evidence is also in the genes. And if you take a look at an embryo developing, you see the entire evolutionary cycle. Here's an essay for you.

Intelligent Design a Hoax
Intelligent Design propagates a lie. It proposes that life must have been created by a higher power because “it is too complex” to have evolved. It blatantly ignores the huge amount of evidence supporting evolution in exchange for a leap of faith disguising itself as science. Religious belief is just exactly that: belief. It should not need justification, and it definitely should not parade around pretending to be based on scientific evidence. If one wants evidence, evolution has volumes of proof to back it up. For example, take the viruses right under our noses. We have to take a new vaccination every year for some like the flu not because it’s been “intelligently designed” but that it changes and evolves each year.
Intelligent Design is a shabby attempt to appeal to today’s scientific mindset (today we look not for miracles to cure our aches and pains but for Tylenol or Aspirin). Just another version of Creationism, Intelligent Design tries to brainwash people into believing a “scientific theory” which cannot be tested or proven correct scientifically. The ignorance of the so-called theory can be seen in its very name. The “Theory of Intelligent Design” is by definition not a theory. A theory is a statement based on observation supported by enough evidence to be accepted among the scientific community above or in combination with other theories. Intelligent Design cannot be a theory, as it cannot be observed directly or indirectly.
On the other hand, evolution is backed by evidence from many different and varied fields of science. Take paleontology and the fossil record. It clearly outlines the concept of change over time as you can see gradual or rapid changes in skeletal structures that can be linked to each other. DNA and observed forms of speciation (how different species come into existence) also back the concept of change over time.
There are also several prominent theories about the origins of life which back evolution and make more sense than Intelligent Design. “Biology”, 6th edition, by Campbell and Reece, illustrates one of the most likely theories very clearly. It contains detailed accounts of how intense energy bombardment (frequent comets, volcanic activity, UV radiation, etc.) could have led to the formation of essential proteins and genetic materials necessary for life. This theory, which completely contradicts Intelligent Design, has been proven to be possible by the Miller & Urey experiment in1953. They replicate an “early earth” environment with little oxygen and plenty of energy. Using a spark as their source of energy, their models successfully created amino acids. These are the building blocks of proteins and their synthesis provided very strong evidence for this theory and its explanation for further change; evolution.
Today, we have more than enough evidence and wisdom to be able to find the truth. Evolution is not the only theory out there and no theory is unchangeable, but Intelligent Design has no reasoning whatsoever. We as humans have the potential to be a great species but we must look past deception. We must see through ignorance posing as wisdom. Only then will we be able to continue our quest on the path of true knowledge.

Answer 2

Now, the only thing that was in this Livescience/2007 is only two pieces. A rib and a leg. So, out of this rib and leg they are able to know the size of the croc? I understand carbon dating would atleast come to a conclusion of the age of the bones. But size? Maybe the skull of the croc would be more, evidence.

Answer 3

That's it, Im gonna stop believing!
So you found a new species that existed a very long time ago and eventually became extinct? And you point is what?

If the arguement is that it existed 100 million years ago according to who? How do we know for sure its 100 million years? Not all scientists are in agreement in the way we have been evaluating the ages of fossils. There data is primarily derived from two dating techniques: radiometric dating and the geologic timescale. Which some scientists question radiometric dating to be flawed in that it is founded upon a series of faulty assumptions while the geologic timescale is flawed in that it employs circular reasoning. So we CAN NOT be sure what the ages are . They are ASSUMING to be accurate but may indeed be false. Man does not know all, even basic questions of how life came to be, elude him. But PRIDE get in the way. Humble yourself , trust in God, pray to him, and watch how He will respond. That to me, is all the proof I need.

Answer 4

It wouldn't matter if you found a fossil of a fish giving live birth to a half croc, half fish. The creationists will only say God put that here to fool us into thinking the earth is older than it is.

I'm not saying this fossil is the answer everyone has waited for...but when you're talking fossils and fanatics...there are just some arguments you will never win, no matter how much proof you have.

Answer 5

What about it? Well, I see that the scientists just discovered another one of God's creations. God is probably saying, "And that took them that long?" up in heaven. We as Christians have to believe in the Bible and the truth of God's word. Did you see the picture of a man's footprints next to a dinosaur in Glenrose, Texas? W

Answer 6

They found a rib bone and a leg bone. Where's the rest of it?How does this prove that it was a transitional fossil??????????????????????

(I'm waiting for an answer. If you don't have one, I'll just move on.)

Answer 7

Yeah, but where is the transitional fossil between THIS fella and crocodiles?

Hey look - dze asked the same question as me IN SERIOUSNESS! I love that.

Answer 8

All of this information and they just unearthed the fossil. They have very good fiction writers on their staff.

Answer 9

ok ... correct me if im wrong ... but isnt evolution a gradual process over ..*ahem ... millions of years ... or is it just a BAM BAM thing u know ... fish ... to crocodile ... to monkey kinda thing .... i think there is about 500million "in between" species miising from the fish-tailed crocodile to the modern crocodile ... or any other animal for that matter ....

Answer 10

Oh Yeah!
Soon they will find a human fossil with a fish's tail...hurry up!!!!!