HumanisTim

Could someone please point me to some good faqs on the evolution of the human eye. I know its a common creationist attack. Help would be appreciated thanks :-)

Kevin Dorner

Unfortunately it's not online, but the best treatment I ever read of this was Richard Dawkins' in "Climbing Mount Improbable." I thought that the chapter dealing with the development of eyes was the best thing that he ever wrote.

Here's <a href="http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/vision.html" target="_blank">a Talk.Origins article</a> that might be helpful.

[ August 09, 2002: Message edited by: Kevin Dorner ]</p>

KnightWhoSaysNi

I remember the PBS Evolution series had a segment on the evolution of the eye. It described how it could have evolved from a step by step process from a light sensitive patch on the skin to a lens. It also describes how there are various animals (like flatworms) that have eyes that resemble 'intermediate' forms. I'm not sure if this will do much good, but here's a link to some of the PBS information, including a video clip, about the segment:

<a href="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/01/1/l_011_01.html" target="_blank">PBS Evolution: evolution of the eye</a>

[ August 09, 2002: Message edited by: Nightshade ]</p>

Magical Sky Man

<a href="http://biomed.brown.edu/Faculty/M/Miller/TR/Lifes-Design.html" target="_blank">http://biomed.brown.edu/Faculty/M/Miller/TR/Lifes-Design.html</a>

monkenstick

<a href="http://www.maayan.uk.com/evoeyes1.html" target="_blank">http://www.maayan.uk.com/evoeyes1.html</a>

includes information about the "eye" gene pax 6, which is highly conserved

"In conclusion then it would seem that very different morphogenic eyes are under the control of very similar genetic cascades. The implication is that Pax-6 was utilised in the formation of an eye in a common ancestor of vertebrates,insects, and molluscs. Thus arguing for a monophyletic origin of eyes."

[ August 09, 2002: Message edited by: monkenstick ]</p>