[dismiss21x]

I wouldn't say it's observed; no one has observed billions of years of evolution. That's why there is debate. Please don't compare to the observation of gravity; it's not even comparable.

[meric]

I think it is comparable. We do have the fossil record, after all.

[ThomPete]

That does not allow you to conclude that evolution is true the way that you can conclude gravity is true/factual.

[mikeash]

Nobody has observed gravity either, only its effects.

[ThomPete]

Nobody observed the effect of evolution.

[jonhinson]

Evolution is simply the change in allele frequency in populations of organisms over time. This is most certainly observable.

[ThomPete]

That is by not metrics what evolution simply is.

[mikeash]

The present-day biosphere is an effect, as is the fossil record and DNA relations between species.

[ThomPete]

That does not prove evolution the way gravity is proven.

[mikeash]

How so? Evolution is just change in populations over time with common descent, and that's pretty well demonstrated through the things I mentioned, about the same as gravity is demonstrated by things falling. What's different?

[dismiss21x]

I've never seen it demonstrated definitively through the fossil record. There are a lot of assumptions and best-guesses leading back to common ancestors.

[toasterlovin]

Evolution is observable.