Defender's Guide to Science and Creationism

Assertion: If evolution were true, there would be more transitional fossils

Mark I. Vuletic

Last updated 21 March 2008

Analysis

(i) Evolutionary theory says nothing about the probability of fossilization. The probability of fossilization is investigated by taphonomists and geologists, who have concluded that it usually is very low. We are fortunate to have found fossil representatives of any of the major evolutionary transitions.

(ii) Considering the low probability of fossilization, the number of transitional forms that have been found is remarkable. To say that these fossils fail to establish evolution because there "should be more" would be akin to seeing the angel Gabriel descend from the sky and saying, "Well, that doesn't prove anything! I mean, where's Uriel?"

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