9 Proofs of Evolution (Why Evolution is True) Ft. Holy Koolaid

The evidence for evolution comes from every branch of science that remotely interacts with organisms. This includes, to name but a few, anatomy, biology, embryology, genetics, neurobiology, and paleontology – which in turn includes every sub-field of these sciences, such as anthropology, biogeography, chronological dating, comparative anatomy, fossils, molecular biology, and the list goes on and on and on and on…

The point being here is that everything we objectively know about the natural world both supports and improves the theory of evolution by natural selection, whether we like it or not! This is 9 Proofs of Evolution – Why Evolution is True.

Now to present all of the evidence for evolution would take eons, and would bore even Darwin, Dawkins and Jay Gould, and so if you’re really interested in reviewing all of the overwhelming evidence for evolution, then this video isn’t it… what it is, however, is just nine lines of evidence from several fields of study which by themselves alone make a very convincing case.

Needles to say, please watch the video for an adequate explanation of each line of evidence, as what follows is just a brief outline (due to a cap on description length).

1. Forelimbs of Whales:

Within their flippers, whales have, just like the forelimbs of land mammals, finger, hand, wrist, and arm bones, which can be easily explained if these bones are repurposed forelimbs, but are remarkably hard to explain if they’re not, as after all, these bones have very little in common with non-mammal fins, and yet a great deal in common with the forelimbs of land mammals.

2. Hind legs of Whales:

Whales have strange bones that look like shrivelled hip, thigh and shin bones where land mammals have hind legs, and some of these bones, such as these (on screen) from a bowhead whale, even have what appears to be a ball and socket joint… further still, palaeontologists have found numerous species within the fossil record that have unique similarities with whales, but also varying sizes of hind legs.

3. Left recurrent Laryngeal nerve in Mammals:

Without getting to technical, this nerve runs from the brain to the voice box, which should be a distance of a few inches, but instead it goes down into the chest, loops around a main artery, and then goes back up to the voice box, which in the case of the giraffe results in a 15 foot detour… “A mistake that no engineer would ever make!”

However, in animals without a neck, such as fish, the most direct route for this nerve is indeed by navigating round the artery, and hence, if mammals evolved from fish-like ancestors, we can easily explain why this absurd design exists. But if, on the other hand, we want to insist that it was deliberately created this way by a designer, then, well, we certainly can’t call this designer intelligent…

Unfortunately, due to a cap on description length, you’ll have to watch the video to see 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.

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DNA Similarity Explained:

Within this video I mention that we share X% of our DNA with certain organisms, and I stress and emphasis the words ‘of comparable DNA’ because that exactly what it is… of the DNA ‘that is comparable’, we share X% with these organisms. However, there is plenty of DNA in all of these organisms that is so different to ours that it can’t be compared, and this is why some studies show as low as a 90% similarity between humans and chimps, while other studies show as high as 99% similarity. It all depends on how you measure it.

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As always, thank you kindly for the view, and I hope this video helps you defeat those assert that evolution has no evidence! Stay rational my fellow apes.

[HolyKoolaid]

If woman came from ribs, why are there still ribs?

[Ploskkky]

I always felt like half a banana.
Now I know why.

[Craznar]

I was taught Evolution as fact at my Catholic School in the 1970s... what's happened to the world since then ?

[HolyKoolaid]

First! In all seriousness, though, I had a blast collaborating with you. I hope we can push your channel well beyond 12, 000 subs with this video, and this time next year, I want to see you rocking 100, 000! ;)

[tobias]

"Gods are fragile things, they may be killed by a whiff of science or a dose of common sense." ~ Chapman Cohen

[hammalammadingdong]

Evidence for evolution comes from various fields of biology and geology, providing a comprehensive and well-supported understanding of how species change over time. Here are some key pieces of evidence:

1. Fossil Record
Transitional Fossils: Fossils that show intermediate states between an ancestral form and that of its descendants. Examples include the transition from fish to amphibians (Tiktaalik), reptiles to birds (Archaeopteryx), and land mammals to whales (Ambulocetus).
Stratigraphy: Fossils found in different geological layers demonstrate a timeline of gradual change, with simpler organisms found in older layers and more complex ones in newer layers.
2. Comparative Anatomy
Homologous Structures: Body parts that are similar in structure but may serve different functions in different species, indicating a common ancestor. For example, the forelimbs of humans, cats, whales, and bats.
Vestigial Structures: Body parts that have lost their original function through evolution. Examples include the human appendix, the pelvis in whales, and the wings of flightless birds like ostriches.
3. Comparative Embryology
Embryonic Development: Similarities in the early stages of development in different species suggest a common ancestry. For instance, vertebrate embryos exhibit pharyngeal pouches (which develop into gills in fish and parts of the ear and throat in mammals).
4. Molecular Biology
DNA and Protein Similarities: The genetic code is universal among all living organisms, and closely related species have more similar DNA sequences. Comparisons of specific genes (like the cytochrome c gene) and proteins (like hemoglobin) show degrees of relatedness.
Endogenous Retroviruses (ERVs): These are viral sequences that have become part of the genome. Shared ERVs in the same genomic locations among different species indicate common ancestry.
5. Biogeography
Geographic Distribution: The distribution of species around the world reflects their evolutionary history. For example, the unique species found on islands (like the finches of the Galápagos Islands) demonstrate adaptive radiation from a common ancestor.
Plate Tectonics: The movement of continents explains the historical distribution of species. Fossils of the same species found on different continents support the idea that these continents were once connected.
6. Direct Observation
Microevolution: Changes within a species can be directly observed. Examples include the development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria, pesticide resistance in insects, and changes in the beak sizes of finches documented by Peter and Rosemary Grant in the Galápagos Islands.
Speciation Events: New species have been observed forming in real-time, such as the apple maggot fly, which shifted from hawthorn trees to apple trees, leading to reproductive isolation and the beginnings of speciation.
7. Experimental Evidence
Artificial Selection: Selective breeding in plants and animals demonstrates how selection can lead to significant changes over relatively short periods. Dogs, for example, have been bred for various traits resulting in a wide variety of breeds from a common ancestor.
These lines of evidence collectively support the theory of evolution, demonstrating how species have adapted and changed over time through natural processes.

References:
Fossil Record
Transitional Fossils:

Daeschler, E. B., Shubin, N. H., & Jenkins, F. A. (2006). A Devonian tetrapod-like fish and the evolution of the tetrapod body plan. Nature, 440(7085), 757-763.
Chiappe, L. M., & Dyke, G. J. (2002). The early evolutionary history of birds. Journal of the Paleontological Society of Korea, 18(1), 133-160.
Stratigraphy:

Gradstein, F. M., Ogg, J. G., Schmitz, M., & Ogg, G. (Eds.). (2012). The Geologic Time Scale 2012. Elsevier.


Comparative Anatomy
Homologous Structures:

Shubin, N. (2008). Your Inner Fish: A Journey into the 3.5-Billion-Year History of the Human Body. Pantheon Books.
Vestigial Structures:

Laubichler, M. D., & Maienschein, J. (Eds.). (2007). From Embryology to Evo-Devo: A History of Developmental Evolution. MIT Press.


Comparative Embryology
Embryonic Development:
Gilbert, S. F. (2010). Developmental Biology (9th ed.). Sinauer Associates.
Molecular Biology
DNA and Protein Similarities:

Brown, T. A. (2002). Genomes (2nd ed.). Wiley-Liss.
Li, W.-H. (1997). Molecular Evolution. Sinauer Associates.
Endogenous Retroviruses (ERVs):

Belshaw, R., Pereira, V., Katzourakis, A., Talbot, G., Paces, J., Burt, A., & Tristem, M. (2004). Long-term reinfection of the human genome by endogenous retroviruses. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 101(14), 4894-4899.


Biogeography
Geographic Distribution:

Lomolino, M. V., Riddle, B. R., & Whittaker, R. J. (2016). Biogeography (5th ed.). Sinauer Associates.
Plate Tectonics:

Hallam, A. (1994). An Outline of Phanerozoic Biogeography. Oxford University Press.


Direct Observation
Microevolution:

Grant, P. R., & Grant, B. R. (2002). Unpredictable evolution in a 30-year study of Darwin's finches. Science, 296(5568), 707-711.
Levy, S. B., & Marshall, B. (2004). Antibacterial resistance worldwide: causes, challenges and responses. Nature Medicine, 10, S122-S129.
Speciation Events:

Bush, G. L. (1994). Sympatric speciation in animals: new wine in old bottles. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 9(8), 285-288.


Experimental Evidence
Artificial Selection:
Darwin, C. (1859). On the Origin of Species. John Murray.
Trut, L. N. (1999). Early canid domestication: The farm-fox experiment. American Scientist, 87(2), 160-169.

[Wewius]

Probably the most infuriating thing for Christians about Steve is that he challenges their believes while simultaneously impersonating Jesus.

[epicdman]

It's funny how the theory that is most controversially debated is the one that has THE MOST evidence to support it. Honestly, if we didn't experience it daily even gravity wouldn't be this evident

[iantoes]

So dogs turned into dogs, moths turned into moths, crickets turn into crickets. Can you guess what the birds turned into, yep you guessed it, birds.

[carolynslist]

This blows my mind. I had this OMG moment where I realized how hard it is to understand evolution, and therefore I understand why people would rather be told they have purpose in life.

[shtlrd]

So, in other words, no matter what I eat, under a specific light I'm a cannibal?

[purugigi]

Am I the only one who has noticed that only creationists use the words "Macroevolution" and "Microevolution"?

[hammalammadingdong]

Reading these creationist comments is like watching people trying to swim up a waterfall.
The levels of denial, faulty reasoning, and misinformation is positively epic.

[goldbyrd]

"But evolution doesn't explain how life began, therefore its false!"
-Seemingly most apologists

[MBarberfanlife]

"Were you there?!!!!" ~Ken Ham. You should do a video debunking Ham's argument :p

[weldersmurf]

I did find Holy Koolaid a while ago and love his content but then I found your channel RR and you became my first creator of content that I supported. both of you are good and I use both channels in explaining things to my daughter.

[traceyb]

Have you ever seen the domesticated Russian fox experiment? The most interesting to me is how when selecting for tameness they got some other traits that were not selected for like drooping ears, change in coat colors and curled tails. I think it demonstrates well that when one thing changes in an animal can have some interesting side effects

[larjkok]

Cue lots of angry Christians, below.
They furiously demand that this is inadequate evidence, and yet cannot present anything even close to being this compelling for the bumbling sky wizard.

[okfanriffic]

You are a smart guy (I'm a fan and subscriber), so don't be sloppy in your language by using the word "proofs". Evolution is a scientific fact and the theory of evolution is the best explanation of that fact. It is supported by an "overwhelming preponderance of evidence" and is accepted by the vast majority of experts but it has never been "proved" and never will be.

[paradigmbuster]

If I were a designer of nerves serving the heart and voice box, I would want to reduce the tension load on the nerve. I would give the nerves strength by having both nerves attached together. In order to keep the voice box nerve from being pulled off the voice box, I would stabilize it by having it attached to the vagus nerve and coming from below. I would put a little message in the design that says "Out of the abundance of the Heart the mouth speaks".