Glossary of Terms Scientific and Evolutionary
Terms 1. Abiogenesis The theory that life arose
from non -living matter without any intelligent
direction. 2. Evolution The process by which
different species develop and diversify from
earlier forms through natural selection. 3. Natural
Selection The process where organisms better
adapted to their environment tend to survive
and reproduce. 4. Mutation a change in the DNA
sequence that may lead to new traits in an organism.
5. Fossil record, the collection of fossils that
documents the history of life on Earth. 6. Transitional
fossil, a fossil that shows traits of both ancestral
and derived species, supposedly demonstrating
evolutionary change. 7. Random mutations, changes
in DNA that occur without a specific purpose
or direction. 8. Macroevolution, large -scale
evolutionary changes that result in the formation
of new species. 9. Microevolution, small -scale
evolutionary changes within a species. 10. Genetic
code, the system of nucleotide sequences in DNA
that contains the instructions for building and
maintaining an organism. eleven irreducible complexity
the argument that some biological systems are
too complex to have evolved incrementally twelve
the bacterial flagellum a complex cellular structure
often used as an example of irreducible complexity
thirteen punctuated equilibrium a theory suggesting
that evolutionary change occurs in rapid bursts
not gradually fourteen multiverse theory The
speculative idea that multiple universes exist,
each with different physical laws. 15. The fine
-tuning argument. The argument that the universe's
physical constants are precisely set to allow
life. 16. Genetic information paradox. The idea
that information requires an intelligent source
and cannot arise randomly. 17. Survival of the
fittest. The concept that organisms with advantageous
traits are more likely to survive and reproduce.
18. Spontaneous generation. The outdated idea
that life can arise from non -living matter,
e .g. maggots from rotting meat. 19. Vestigial
structures. Body parts that are considered evolutionary
leftovers with little or no function. 20. Hominid
evolution. The study of human evolution from
ape -like ancestors. 21. RNA World Hypothesis.
The theory that early life used RNA instead of
DNA for genetic storage and enzymatic activity.
Philosophical and logical terms. 22. Materialism.
The belief that only physical matter exists,
and everything, including thought and morality,
arises from material interactions. 23. Determinism.
The idea that all events, including human actions,
are determined by preceding causes. 24. The law
of identity, a fundamental logical principle
stating that something is what it is. A is A.
25. The law of non -contradiction, a principle
stating that something cannot be both true and
false at the same time in the same way. 26. The
law of the excluded middle, a principle stating
that something is either true or false with no
middle ground. 27. Epistemology, the study of
knowledge, including how we know what we know.
28. Self -refuting argument, an argument that
contradicts itself, e .g., there is no absolute
truth, is an absolute statement. 29. Begging
the question, circular reasoning. a logical fallacy
where the conclusion is assumed in the premise
thirty reductionism the idea that complex systems
can be explained entirely by their simpler components
thirty one the problem of induction the philosophical
issue of justifying the assumption that future
observations will be like past ones thirty two
the evolutionary argument against naturalism
Alvin Plantinga's argument that if human cognition
evolved purely for survival, we have no reason
to trust our reasoning as true. 33. Cognitive
dissonance. The mental discomfort of holding
conflicting beliefs. 34. Objective versus subjective
morality. The debate over whether moral values
exist independently or are defined by individuals
shams society. 35. Social contract theory. The
belief that morality is based on agreements within
society rather than objective truths. 36. Moral
relativism. The belief that morality is subjective
and varies by culture or individual belief. 37.
Unfalsifiable hypothesis. A claim that cannot
be tested or disproven, making it non -scientific.
Theological and metaphysical terms. 38. Theism
versus atheism. The belief in God versus the
belief that no deity exists. 39. Biblical creationism.
The belief that God created the universe and
life as described in Genesis. 40. The uniformity
of nature. The assumption that the laws of nature
remain consistent over time. 41. Teleology. The
study of purpose and design in nature. 42. Presuppositional
apologetics. A method of defending Christianity
that argues all reasoning must start with belief
in God. 43. Irreducible complexity. The claim
that some biological structures are too complex
to have evolved incrementally. 44. The anthropic
principle. The argument that the universe's physical
laws appear fine -tuned for human existence.
45. Transcendental argument for God. Tag. The
argument that logic, morality, and science depend
on God's existence. Miscellaneous terms. 46.
Artificial intelligence, AI, and DNA comparison.
The analogy comparing DNA's complexity to human
programming. 47. Information theory. The scientific
study of how information is transmitted and stored.
48. Algorithmic complexity. The difficulty of
randomly generating ordered... meaningful information
49. probability and large numbers the argument
that just because something is statistically
possible doesn't mean it will happen 50. grant
money in scientific research the critique that
many scientific theories are shaped by financial
incentives