# Proof of microscopic evolution. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 11, 2009, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-of-microscopic-evolution/502714 "2009-07-11T22:08:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2009, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-of-microscopic-evolution/502714/21 "2009-07-13T19:58:15Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > But in trying hard to argue their point, they made the mistake of just saying, outright, that the theory of evolution has not been proven. They meant macro-evolution, I know, but they said, “evolution”. I pounced on that because I had remembered reading from many sources that scientists now have observed the evolution of micro-organisms (I’m getting sketchy now…hoping I have some clue what the hell I’m talking about.) Ask them, come flu vaccination time, if they want the injection that protects against the flu strains from 1995, or 2009. If there isn’t any such thing as evolution, the 1995 one should be fine - and cheaper to boot! ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2009, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-of-microscopic-evolution/502714/22 "2009-07-13T20:44:45Z")
Not really sure if it’s exactly the sort of thing you’re looking for, but I’ve always been fascinated with the [Lake Tanganyika Cichlids](http://hagblomfoto.com/article_evolution.htm). Basically, geography isolated a type of fish into a small area, and over the past 700,000 years, those fish have radiated out to fill every ecological niche in the lake- even such that some of the new variants will predate upon other cichlids. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2009, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-of-microscopic-evolution/502714/23 "2009-07-13T22:40:53Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Ask them, come flu vaccination time, if they want the injection that protects against the flu strains from 1995, or 2009. If there isn’t any such thing as evolution, the 1995 one should be fine - and cheaper to boot! This is great. I would love to have had that in my pocket while the topic was still on the table. This thread has been much more fun and informative than I was expecting. ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-of-microscopic-evolution/502714/24 "2009-07-14T16:54:28Z")
> [@Olentzero](#): > > Having gotten that out of the way, I think your generalization of **Nzinga’s** friends is entirely unfounded and your conclusion (educating them is pointless) is completely incorrect. People’s ideas can be changed, and building sounds like a whole lotta good times. **Nzinga** may not succeed in convincing everyone, but the spirit in which s/he comes looking for answers to the difficult questions is a good way of educating oneself - and that can be done anywhere, not just inside the ivied walls of academia. I stand by my position. I was trying to pick characteristics that were not demeaning, but as a snob I probably failed. My point is that on many key ideas people have acquired their positions from “tribal membership” rather than a true understanding of the underlying issue. The role of vacinations on Autism is another example. There is so much factual evidence that there is no link, but people remain firm on their position. They belong to the tribe that does not trust medical science. Chaging their position would require breaking from their friends. Dead Heads are another example. They remained convinced that the Dead were accomplished musicians. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-of-microscopic-evolution/502714.md?page=1)