judanne

There's more than a little bit of creationist angst (bordering on obsession) regarding the function of apparently defensive physiological structures. This, of course, is related to the attempt to explain the purpose of such features on our pre-Fall relatives (vegetarian tigers 'n' such). On the subject of antlers, John Woodmorappe, a YEC, pontificates vividly. Despite the fact that just about everything JW has uttered has been well refuted and AFAIK, his proclaimed credentials remain unverified, he does make a relevant observation:Pertaining directly to cervids we might add that both female and male caribou have antlers and that moose have antlers that are not "razor sharp". In both these cases, other (non-defensive) functions have been observed and/or hypothesized. While the biological musings of laypersons such as JW may sufficiently explain antlers and carnivor dentition to the already-made-up minds of YEC's, they in no way subtract from the veracity of the ToE. Whether cervid antlers evolved as a result of natural selection or sexual selection, is largely irrelevant to the fact that they did evolve. The demand that we explain how antlers evolved is little more than another tiresome reincarnation of the god-of-the-gaps argument.

Since you (kingzfan2000) didn't seem overly enthused with my little story about how the descendents of little buck evolved antlers, perhaps you will like this story better. After all, it has more in common with the biblical version of creation than mine does and is comparably implausible.

Oolon Colluphid

Dead link atm at least; try this one instead:
http://home.arcor.de/marcmarti/yugur...ale/eyu01b.htm

judanne

How odd. I'm sure I checked all my links and they worked Thanks for reposting the new one. That is the same story though minus the colored pictures.

FatherMithras

Kingzfan :If you cannot personally conceive of a reason something evolved the only LOGICAL explanation is that god did it, despite the fact I present no mechanism for HOW god did it, why he didn't make them optimal in function, and why so many of the things we HAVE researched show evolution to be true and supported by the data. Godidit, and that's the only logical conclusion.

You're statements in no way follow any kind of logic. You're argument is entirely of the God of the Gaps variety, and if followed, would have kept us ignorant of the theory of gravity, germs, and viri.