dont like evolution, deny germ theory too (Score 0)

Scientifically speaking evolution is a theory, but only because there are no absolute facts in science ... just testable theories that have yet to prove false.

Let us examine some other biological scientific theories ...

• 1) Germ theory. This is the theory that micro-organisms can cause disease.
• 2) Cancer theory. (e.g. the theory that cancer occurs when cells escape normal cellular regulation).
• 3) Antibiotic theory (e.g. the theory that penicillin or other similar molecules will kill bacteria).
• 4) The theory that neurons transmit electrical impulses.

How about some non-biological scientific theories...

• 1) Atoms are made up of electrons, protons and neutrons (which themselves are made up of smaller particles).
• 2) Electricity is due to the movement (conductance) of electrons.

The list is nearly endless. All of these are, scientifically speaking, theories but are espoused as fact in common usage because experimentally they have stood the test of time. The case for evolution is as strong, if not stronger, than germ theory. The exact biological details of how a specific germ infects a cell, causes the disease symptoms, or is purged by our immune system might be hotly debated, but germ theory as a whole is not.

Similarly, scientists debate about the mode and tempo of evolution, about the exact mechanism(s) of speciation for a given speciation event, and about the exact contributions of different mutational forces & mechanisms, fitness levels required for survivability, and the underlying biochemical processes. The existence of evolution is not under debate because in experiment after experiment ... scientific observation after scientific observation ... time and time again, for the two centuries that scientists investigating this concept, evolution has held true, testable, and verifiable. Many of the experiments reach back in time, even to the prokaryotic/eukaryotic split.

If you are worried about the scientific debate part, I should inform you that there is a also debate about the exact nature of protons, electrons, and neutrons (e.g. string theory) or what gravity is (gravitons?, how does gravity exert force). That electrons or the force of gravity exists is not really in contention. Neither is the existence of evolution.

Evolution provides a framework for all of biology. It is sort of the "unified field" theory of biology. The theory is that good. Evolutionary theory has greatly increased our understanding of biology and medicine and continues to have tremendous predictive capacity.

Here is an evolution based prediction that is in the news lately. Bird flu. The H5N1 strain of bird flu, by random mutation and repeated exposure to humans acquired (evolved) the ability to infect humans. Scientists are now worried that the H5N1 strain might evolve the ability to spread from human to human. "Beneficial" for the survival of that viral strain, "bad" for humans individually. I can not say what H5N1 transmissibility means for the long term fitness of the human species.