Contradiction: random "natural selection," from Reuters

[Humor_In_Cuneiform]

If the words were combined intentionally with knowledge of their incompatibility, then it would be an oxymoron.

Anyone who has studied the theory of evolution and natural selection even a little bit, knows that natural selection is anything but random. If natural selection were random, we wouldn't need a label or name for it. It would not produce any noticeable, ie predictable, results.

Hello??????

A couple of definitions of the word, phrases:

Random: Having no specific pattern, arrangement or predictable outcome.

Natural selection: is a process by which biological populations are altered over time, as a result of the propagation of heritable traits that affect the capacity of individual organisms to survive and reproduce...believed to be the one responsible for organisms being adapted to their environment


"Leading Republican differs with Bush on evolution
Thu Aug 4, 2005 3:17 PM ET

By Jon Hurdle
PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - A leading Republican senator allied with the religious right differed on Thursday with President Bush's support for teaching an alternative to the theory of evolution known as "intelligent design."

Republican Sen. Rick Santorum, a possible 2008 presidential contender who faces a tough re-election fight next year in Pennsylvania, said intelligent design, which is backed by many religious conservatives, lacked scientific credibility and should not be taught in science classes.

Bush told reporters from Texas on Monday that "both sides" in the debate over intelligent design and evolution should be taught in schools "so people can understand what the debate is about."

"I think I would probably tailor that a little more than what the president has suggested," Santorum, the third-ranking Republican member of the U.S. Senate, told National Public Radio. "I'm not comfortable with intelligent design being taught in the science classroom."

Evangelical Christians have launched campaigns in at least 18 states to make public schools teach intelligent design alongside Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.

Proponents of intelligent design argue that nature is so complex that it could not have occurred by random natural selection, as held by Darwin's 1859 theory of evolution, and so must be the work of an unnamed "intelligent cause."..."

Anybody have email address for Jon Hurdle at Reuters?

[BlueEyedSon]

1. Exactly, natural selection/evolution is far from random....nt

[BootinUp]

2. Good catch. n/t

[Humor_In_Cuneiform]

7. Have sent it on to a few media watchdogs, some MSM,

and selected others.

Thanks.

[ihaveaquestion]

3. Should be: Random Genetic Variation or Mutation ....

some of which will be "good" variations/mutations that cause the organism to survive based on natural selection, which is not random.

Sheesh1 I should have been a scientist! This stuff makes so much sense to me.

[Kraklen]

4. Eh.

I think they mean random mutation and natural selection.

If you hadn't noticed how bad science in reporting is before, welcome to the club.

[Humor_In_Cuneiform]

6. It's the omissions we have to worry about

Like they say, the "devil" is in the details.

I suspect such an omission is not unintentional. They kind of need to claim that evolution, ie natural selection is random.

Otherwise, evolution would be "intelligent design."

[rman]

5. random mutations, then natural selection (of the fittest)

[wli]

8. wait until punctuated equilibrium comes up