This is in response to the May 14 editorial, “Evolution debate pops up in Maine,” inspired by a member of a Somerset County school district who wants to drop evolution from the high school science curriculum.

The Sun Journal editorial began with “First, the fact part.” It described how bacteria, crop pests and fruit flies adapt to changes in their environments, and that scientists can watch them develop and evolve from one generation into the next.

The editorial was right that many generations can be observed in a short time, so if there were any changes, we could see them. But, in fact, we don’t. No new bacteria; just survival of bacteria resistant to the antibiotic du-jour.

No new bugs; just two, lucky enough to have a natural resistance to the pesticide du-jour and passing it on to their little grubs. No new fruit flies; just ones with slightly longer wings (the mutants with an extra set of wings could neither fly, nor mate), hence, no new species.

The editorial stated “All organisms change, therefore they all evolve.” And humans have been around for 3.6 million years. Where do the facts start? Change equals evolution? 3.6 million years?

How does anyone know?

The editorial concludes with “Theories are structures of ideas that explain and interpret facts.” If the facts are shaky, so is the structure.

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1

Greg Poliquin, Auburn