how do you know evolution is true?

Answer 1

In science you never "know" that something is true. It's never "proven". All we know is that evolution is the best explanation for the evidence we have.

Also, it's not just one thing, or two things, or five things that has convinced the overwhelming majority (as in 98%) of scientists in the world that evolution is the best explanation of the evidence.

It's hundreds of things.

Scientists, are extremely skeptical people ... they need a *lot* of evidence to be *this* convinced.

For this reason, any good answer to the question of evidence, by necessity, gets a bit long ... as there is a *lot* of evidence for evolution.

So here's an answer I wrote up for a similar question ... 10 categories of evidence for evolution (see my answer to the following question):
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ap1iexO.OZVbOFhlCOlJKqbty6IX?qid=20061114162706AAJ3vs9

Answer 2

We really don't know if evolution is true or not. What we do know is that speciation is true. When we look at genetics we know that through the mixing of genes we can get variations of a species.

If you have one kind of dog, through variations over periods of time you can get many various kinds of dogs. Random mutations also help create a variety of traits, some good, some bad.

When geneticist figured this out, they started various mutation experiments during the 1940's and 50's. They figured that with the knowledge they had they could create new species. What they discovered was that when they were able to create mutants, the mutants could not procreate. For example a horse and a donkey make a mule. Mules tend to be sterile and can't reproduce.

If you look at nature you know that a horse will not normally mate with a donkey, these are done with man made help. If for some rare reason a horse and a donkey did mate, they would produce a sterile offspring. Nature would require horses and donkeys to keep mating for generations in order to keep a new species around.

The fossil record shows evidence of vast life forms that once existed but what you are not told in school is that the fossil record is not telling you what evolutions claim.

It's assumed that all life or most of life evolved from one common ancestor but the fact is that when you go back far enough in the fossil record you come to a disturbance that is making a lot of evolutionist uncomfortable.

The Cambrian explosion is a unique time in geological time that had a vast variety of life forms, many of which were so unique they did not fall into the straight line evolution that was once believed. When you look at that period in time, the family tree of animals doesn't look like a tree at all, but it looks like blades of grass, each species coming out of it's own, out of who knows where.

Anyway, this question is very complicated and would require volumes to write, plus people have been debating this issue for way too many years.

Answer 3

I would say the evolution is proved to be a fact because of the fossil record. Animals have clearly been changing over time and that is the definition of evolution. Natural selection as the mechanism is the only viable scientific theory. It is backed up with equally solid evidence from some genetic studies. There is a section of mitochondrial DNA that doesn't code for proteins and is free to mutate. Studying the differences in the sequences indicates that we and other animals are descended from common ancestors in an unambiguous way.

Answer 4

When I was a young lad I used to collect all kinds of critters. I had a veritable zoo of snakes,lizards,frogs,insects,birds,and mammals. Do you know what made it easy for me to understand the concept of evolution? The frogs. I used to find the frog eggs after a hard rain. You could find them in a water filled ditch. Anyway it was fascinating to watch the eggs hatch and become guppy like creatures. Then like magic after a while they started to grow legs. You should look up the evolution of tetrapods on google. Then after a while they lost their gills and tails and became land breathers. I guess growing up in the county had it's advantages. I suppose Darwin had similar interests in collecting and observing all life,and this led him to the conclusions he came to. You must also understand though that he was not the first to come to these conclusions. You see 2700 years ago in Greece there was a man named Anaximander of Milius who thought that all living organisms had a common origin. Anyway I seem to be getting off track here. This is how I know evolution is correct.

Answer 5

You know because so many animals are similar. Also, fossils indicate stages in evolution. With some animals you can tell where they branched off from common ancestors.

Answer 6

Because of all of the evidence that it is true. And, things I see with my own eyes. And, things I read about DNA testing which confirms what the fossil record shows.

If you happen to think it's not true, it is your obligation to show some contrary evidence to support an alternate theory.

Answer 7

Because I would rather base my beliefs on empirical evidence as opposed to just taking all that crap they shove down people's throats at church, to paraphrase another answerer. I would rather have tangible proof than just accept what someone says because they said so and be a mindless sheep.

Answer 8

fossils show us how evolution of living organisms has taken place over millions of years

Answer 9

The same way I know that it is true the sun will rise tomorrow--all the collected past evidence points to it being so.

After all, can you PROVE that the sun will rise tomorrow?

Answer 10

I would say that in order to be positive, someone will have to stay alive for a few million years.
My own theory is that we all evolved from rocks,
and when people ask stupid questions,you just know they have proved the theory . They have rocks in their heads.