Given the question, 'Is evolution well-supported by evidence and widely accepted within the scientific community?', 48% of Americans say 'No'. Now, whatever about the "well-supported by evidence" clause (it is), evolution is "widely accepted" and even the anti-evolutionists admit it. Apparently nearly one in two Americans have been hit with the stupid-stick. Really, really hard.
(HT to whomever linked to me from Slashdot.)
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A phylogeny is a statement about the evolutionary history of organisms. Cladograms give branching order only, but phylograms include branch lengths as well.
In tomorrow's New York Times, I have an article about how new species evolve.
"Just in time for the bicentennial observance of Charles Darwin's birth, a new survey of Louisiana residents shows 40 percent of the respondents believe evolution is not well-supported by evidence or generally accepted within the scientific community," the Baton Rouge Advocate (April
It's not just in science that many people don't know what's what. A few years back the Presbyterian Church USA came up with what is known as 'A Brief Statement of Faith' It mentions the story of the Prodigal Son which is one of the more famous stories - supposedly - in Scripture. They also quoted a passage that is more obscure about sheltering under a hen's wing. They wondered if the one was known well-enough. The survey they heard was that most Christians didn't know either. Christians, even those who claim to be fundamentalists or evangelicals, don't know their scriptures all that well. Why would they know what is happening in science.
P.S. I am a Christian, but wanted to be a scientist until I found out that working in the laboratory wasn't right for me. I still have the interest even if I don't have the mindset to do the work.
Well the question does say "and". Even if 100% of the public believed it were widely accepted, the could still honestly answer NO if they disagreed with the first phrase.
Maybe they should have had 2 separate quesions.
1. Is evolution well-supported by evidence?
2. Is evolution widely accepted within the scientific community?
They still might answer NO to #2 if they believe the 'more and more scientists are questioning evolution' meme, or pay any attention to those ridiculous DI surveys.
I think the question should have said "Please explain the evidence supporting evolution before proceeding with the rest of your answer."