Comments on: Does the ToE (Theory of Evolution) Include OOL (Origin of Life)? http://truthmatters.info/2008/08/16/does-the-toe-theory-of-evolution-include-ool-origin-of-life/ Because the truth really does matter! Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:50:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: joshuaz1 http://truthmatters.info/2008/08/16/does-the-toe-theory-of-evolution-include-ool-origin-of-life/#comment-1560 Wed, 29 Oct 2008 16:59:08 +0000 http://afdave.wordpress.com/?p=156#comment-1560 There’s an important logical distinction that you seem to be missing. Even if at some philosophical level abiogenesis is included in evolution as an area of study, they are still logically distinct issues. That is, one could have a deity poof a common ancestor into existence and then have that evolve. The evidence for universal common descent through natural selection needs to be evaluated independently of evidence for abiogenesis.

(Note also that PZ admits here he is being “heretical” so he acknowledges that his stance is not that of most biologists and biochemists anyways).

]]> By: lordkalvan http://truthmatters.info/2008/08/16/does-the-toe-theory-of-evolution-include-ool-origin-of-life/#comment-1551 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:23:09 +0000 http://afdave.wordpress.com/?p=156#comment-1551 The compartmentalization of particular areas of study is not unusual. That OOL questions impact on evolution is undeniable, but it is certainly the case that the study of evolution on a practical, day-to-day basis is not immediately affected by the question of how that evolving life originated. It is the same as expecting an astrophysicist whose particular speciality might be the study of Jupiter to be continually concerned with addressing the question of how the Universe came into existence. It has a relevance, yes, but is not itself immediately relevant to the formation and evolution of the Jovian system.

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