Evolutionary fact is that species DO evolve from other species and that
man and other animals and plants and all known living organisms evolved from
common ancestors over billions of years. This can no more be disputed
successfully than gravity. It is not in any doubt what-so-ever.

Evolutionary theory, deals with precise relationships between
species, mechanisms of how evolution occurs, and predictions of what
should be observed under particular conditions.

It predicts that when the local environment changes in significant ways
affecting survival and reproductive success, species will evolve to meet
the new local conditions. Status: substantiated prediction.

It predicts that molecular "clocks" will correspond at least to a first
approximation to the time since two species diverged in the fossil record.
Status: substantiated prediction.

It predicts that deep mechanisms of bio-chemistry and heredity should be
almost identical among all plant, animals, bacteria, fungi, etc. Status:
substantiated prediction.

It predicts that some body structures should be found that are evolutionary
relics not of current use (evolution only disposes of things quickly that are
active handicaps - thus eyes are a quick victim of evolution in caves. Neutral
items the neither help nor hinder significantly can hang around for very
long times - so people still have tail bones.) Status: substantiated
prediction.

Evolutionary theory predicts that two recently seperated species should be
"near misses" as far as cross-breeding goes. It should work sometimes
depending on how long ago the species seperated. In example: Lion - Tiger
cross-breeds and Horse - Donkey cross-breeds (which are generally infertile).
Status: substantiated prediction.

Failure of several of those predictions would have cast strong doubt
on the theory of evolution as a whole.

benjamin.franz@m.cc.utah.edu