THE CONCEPT OF BIOLOGICAL EVOLUTION — Questions on Evolution

The concept of evolution presupposes that if one species evolves into another, it is due to biological changes, mutations. For instance, a goat-like mammal underwent innumerable changes generation after generation, until the accumulation of these changes, led to the production of a giraffe-like animal in the last stage of the goat’s evolution. This long journey was marked by innumerable phases. However one small favourable change in the DNA structure of only one individual would require billions of generations; and the evolution of a complete sequence is clearly not possible in the time span since the formation of the earth. Age of the Earth and Evolution The age of the earth was not known in the times of Charles Darwin. But with the development of science and technology, the age of the earth has been ascertained with certainty. Geologists have calculated that the earth came into existence 4.5 billion years ago. Much of the earth was molten and extremely hot due to volcanism and frequent collisions with other bodies. Over time it cooled and water came into existence. According to geological studies, the first simple life forms appeared around 3.5 billion years ago. Photosynthetic life appeared 2 billion years ago and life remained mostly small and microscopic until about 580 million years ago, when complex multicellular life arose. There exists no planet favourable for life, similar to earth, anywhere in the vast universe. Now, according to Darwin’s supposition, man and other living species came into existence through a biological process. But the age of the earth is totally inadequate for this process. This evolutionary process can just not result in the evolution of man within 580 million years. Panspermia In the second half of the 20th century, when the age of the earth was discovered, biologists felt that their theory was not workable. Now they added another concept to evolution. They developed the theory that the initial form of life had come into existence on another planet, from where it travelled to the earth. The subsequent biological processes then took place on earth. This concept is termed ‘Panspermia.’ After the Second World War came the age of space science and research. Spacecraft, satellites and space stations were built with newly