Why Evolution is True - Book Report/Review Example

Why Evolution is True Jerry Coyne is the author of the intriguing book on evolution. Although many authors have focused on the theory of evolution, few of them have registered success in producing a volume that presents a diverse range of reasons in support of evolution. Coyne adopts a convincing tone, and takes the reader through nine chapters of intensive description of his conviction that evolution is a reality. Evidently, the theory has received discredits and unending criticisms. However, Coyne serves to offer clarifications on the many misrepresented ideas about evolution. Evidently, the nine chapters augment each other as they exhibit a coherent discussion of the available evidence in support of evolution. A close analysis of this book reveals that the theory of evolution has faced immense criticism, but has demonstrated resilience over the years. The idea proposed by Darwin forms the basis of the arguments presented in this book, although the author expands the ideas in a bid to persuade the reader into recognizing the existing evidence in support of evolution. This paper will present a review of each chapter in the book, highlighting the main ideas presented by the author. Prior to the first chapter, the author offers a preface that serves to invite the reader to an intriguing reading experience. The book targets readers who have exhibited doubt in the theory of evolution. Interestingly, the author highlights that the ideology of creationism is not uniquely American, but rather has been adopted by many people in the globe. After the preface, the author then presents his introduction into the text. In the introduction, the author mentions the indispensable criticality of Darwin and his theory of evolution. The author appears to have the conviction that the evolution serves to shed light on human understanding of the world. The first chapter of the book seeks to define evolution and Coyne titled it ‘What is evolution?’. In this first chapter, which is a critical anecdote to the entire book, Coyne describes the aspects that he views as central in developing a definition for evolution (Coyne, 2009). According to the author, he reasons in support of Darwin, who highlighted the idea that life emanate from a primitive form. For the world observed today to exist, gradual change assumed immense responsibility in transforming the primitive form into the modern creatures. Notably, the author places emphasis on the significance of natural selection as the mechanism responsible for the immense changes that have defined what course the primitive life form exhibited (Smith, 2011). Outlined in this chapter are the central aspects of evolution namely evolution, speciation, common ancestry, gradualism, natural selection, and the non-selective mechanisms that have served to define certain evolutionary changes. The author also highlights the observation made by may evolution theory supporters that change occurs in time leading to the formation of generations. Evidently, these generations may often exhibit a measure if diversity (Coyne, 2009). Coyne then places emphasis on one of the ideas posed by all supporters of evolution that genetic mutations account for the indomitable differences evident today. In a bid to define the concept of evolution, the author mentions certain characteristics that are evident among many species today. Notably, some of those highlighted include the capacity of living creatures to undergo metabolism and yield energy. Moreover, all the deoxyribonucleic acid molecules across different species comprise of four bases, coded as four letters. An additional similarity is the fact that through the transcription and translation of DNA, all species exhibit the potential of protein synthesis (Coyne, 2009). According to Coyne, he is in full support of the postulated idea that all the existing species emanated from a single common ancestor. Evidently, this ancestor, through gradualism and natural selection, evolved and underwent speciation, giving rise to the multiple species that define life in modern day. According to Coyne, natural selection is a process that occurs without the intervention of a designer. This view serves to contract the creation theory that highlights the presence of a designer, of a higher level of intelligence and wisdom. Chapter two of the book accords attention to the description of fossil evidence that has presented many supporters of evolution with the existing conviction that evolution occurred. The chapter, titled Written in the Rocks’ highlights the fact fossils have been found because they sunk to the bottom after remains emanated from either plant or animal that were not subject to decay sifted through water to the bottom. According to the author, the fossils discovered and analyzed constitute only a minimal percentage of the species that have existed. Among these fossils, are the transitional forms of fossils that define the descent from one species to another as gradual genetically based change defined the evolution process. The Tiktaak roseae is one of the transitional forms that reveal the transition of amphibians to birds (Smith, 2011). Chapter three of the book focuses on the remnant vestiges, embryos, and bad design. The basis of the ideologies posed in this chapter is the fact the process of evolution required no designer to design each species. The author asserts that imperfection is aspects that define evolution, a factor that serves to discredit the existence of perfect designer. The author places emphasis on the vestiges as organs that have lacked use over time. Atavism also is described in this chapter (Coyne, 2009). The term denotes any reappearance of an ancestral trait s in some organisms. Moreover, the author describes the existence of dead genes, whose transcription purpose is no longer useful. The dead genes have been denoted as the vestigial genes, and vary between species. The fact that human embryos still exhibit certain features resembling those of fish is an additional idea addressed by the author in this chapter. Evidently, such occurrence serves as proof of common fetal development stages between species. The chapter also reveals certain aspects that it denotes as evidences of bad design. According to the author, the location of the testes and the urethra have seems to be an evidence of bad design. Such unpleasant design can only be a definitive aspect of evolution. The fourth chapter deals with the geography of life. Evidently, the presence of similar species of plants and animals in distant continents has been a subject of discussion. As the author outlines in this book, it appears that similar climatic conditions, as supported by the continental drift theory prompted the indicated certain similarities. In addition, the author discusses the occurrence of fossils in areas that exhibit a connection between the modern day species and the ancestors (Coyne, 2009). Evidently, older fossils are found in the deeper layers while those of recent generations appear in the top layers. Therefore, such geographical locations of fossils have served to highlight some critical aspects of the transition of the preceding species into the modern ones. The fifth chapter seeks to describe the engine responsible for driving the evolution process. Natural selection is the principal mechanism that ensures that the emergence of new species from pre-existing ones takes place. Evidently, the aspects of random and lawful selection are discussed in this chapter. According to the author, three critical preconditions ensure that the process of natural selection occurs successfully. These conditions include the presence of a starting population that exhibits a level of variability. Such variability should have its basis on genetic mutations. Despite the misguided conception exhibited by many people, the concept of randomness highlights the occurrence of mutations that yield both desirable and undesirable traits. After evolution exhibits such randomness, lawfulness serves to ensure that only the variants that exhibit desirable traits are the ones that persist. The author refutes the common claim exhibited by many people that evolution is a process that relies on chance for its occurrence (Coyne, 2009). Coyne argues that the perception of chance is one adopted by people who know little about evolution. Therefore, the misguided understanding is a concept promoted by people who refute the credibility of evolution. According to Coyne, chance is a fallacy since randomness coupled with lawfulness ensures that the emerging species exhibit traits that can prove resilient in the prevailing climatic conditions. The author places emphasis on the criticality of natural selection, and offering classical examples that serve to explain the concept further. The resistance to drugs and the evidence seen in test-tube evolution serve as critical aspect promoting the existence of natural selection (Smith, 2011). In chapter six, the author shifts his attention to the role of different sexes as exhibited in nature. Although many people have accorded little thought to the reason why there are only two sexes. Moreover, patterns observed from nature exhibit certain intriguing aspects about both male and female. The fact that females have the freedom to choose which of the males is a suitable mate serves as a subject deserving of intensified thought. Moreover, other pertinent differences such as the production of few eggs of considerably large size in females while males produce small eggs but of a high quantity. Moreover, males have to chase females, a factor that requires them to prove highly aggressive. Such aggression is a factor that is not evident in females, who prove to be rather coy. According to the author, such differences serve as reliable evidence to the gradual changes that have defined evolution. Chapter seven of the book touches on the origin of species. With the presence of a remarkable diversity of the species that are evident today, many people have sought a valid explanation for the emergence of such exemplary diversity. Theological explanations have attributed such diversity as a factor that emanated from the creation account, and that was replaced after Noah’s flood (Coyne, 2009). However, Coyne discredits such a view as a whim and highlights that evolution is the only reliable explanation for the existing diversity of species. Moreover, the speciation process has yielded concerns from some critics who are yet to observe any major changes that can attribute to the emergence of an entirely new species from the existing ones. However, Coyne mentions that changes that take place in modern day are micro, and that only future generations will have the prospect of witnessing major changes. Moreover, he places emphasis on the fact that species do not emanate from absolutely nothing, but rather from preceding ones, with genetic mutations defining the changes that occur later. The subject on the emergence of human races and the differences that define humans is the content highlighted in chapter eight titled ‘What about us?’ In this chapter, the author addresses the concerns about the races through evolution. Coyne discredits the views of theologists that the view that braces emerged after Noah’s flood as a dismissive whim. In his opinion, natural selection serves as the only sensible why humans exist in different races, but have minimal differences as a species. The last chapter offers a revolution redux. Of critical importance is the idea posed by the author that the fear of many is a factor defined by the emotional significance of the human evolution from apes (Coyne, 2009). Moreover, he cites that any scientific theory must have the potential to initiate a form of controversy. Many creationists have argued that evolution does not present people with a source of hope, as does the belief in a Supreme Being that offers a purposeful creation account. Although many people discredit evolution, they have little comprehension of the concepts that are central to evolution. He further opines that there is salient need for advanced research to increase the understanding of the evolution process. Conclusion As described above, the nine chapters augment each other as they exhibit a coherent discussion of the available evidence in support of evolution. Peering into a close analysis of this book reveals that the theory of evolution has faced unending criticism, but has demonstrated resilience over the years. The author credits the ideas proposed by Darwin forms the basis of the arguments presented in this book. The author exhibits efforts towards expanding the ideas in a bid to persuade the reader into recognizing the existing evidence in support of evolution. This book presents a challenge for those criticizing evolution. References Coyne, J. A. (2009). Why evolution is true. New York: Oxford University Press. Smith, C. M. P. (2011). The fact of evolution. Amherst, N.Y: Prometheus Books. Read More