@tpaine
Don't be disingenuous.If the theory of evolution has been empirically validated a la the composition of H2O,you won't be hedging by talking of "formulating hypothesis."
The whole debate is about the origin of life,unless you asserting that this has been empirically validated,you are effectively stuck with the formulation of hypothesis.Until then,many other theories about the origin of life retain credibility until one has been conclusively proven.
I think I get your point now, but you are wrong, with respect.
"Every" scientific theory starts life as a hypothesis. The investigator gathers the facts and tries to explain such fact with a hypothesis. Only after the hypothesis has been successfully verified and validated and the investigator and the community of worldwide scientists is that accepted as a theory.
I used "hypothesis" in my analogies not to reduce evolustion to a hypothesis, but to demonstrate how a scientist would go about investigating the questions.
You would be surprise, evolution has been validated at very minute levels; the chromosomal and microbiological level. Check out the work of the evolutionary scientist Sean Carrol,
http://www.hhmi.org/research/investigators/carroll_bio.htmlhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ncgm9QOzQsABTW, evolution does NOT explain the start of life. It only explains the diversification of life, once life had got started.
You may want to take my elementary test to check out your comprehension of basic science. This is may be instructive. Here we go;
1-) What is the speed of light? How long does it take the light from the sun to reach the earth?
2-) What is the difference between a theory and a hypothesis in the scientific sense?
3-) Have you ever heard about the germ theory of disease, the theory of gravity?
4-) What are stromatolites?
5-) How old is the earth?
6-) What is the end-permian extinction and what proportion of life went extinct?
7-) How long ago were dinosaurs wiped out?
8-) Do you know what asteroid impact of the earth are?
9-) Can you give a rough estimate of the number of stars on our galaxy, the Milky Way?
10-) Do you know what chromosomes and DNA are. Can you name any "genetic disease"?
11-) On the whole, do you think science and technology provides solutions to human problems?
12-) Have you ever visted a museum?
13-) What are fossils?
14-) What is the geological column?
15-) What is the theory of plate tectonic?
16-) How is petroleum fuel formed and how long is the process?
![Nairaland [Nigerian Forum] Home](http://www.nairaland.com/Themes/default/images/english/home.gif)
Author
