--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As you know, the fossil record includes…" description: "\"As you know, the fossil record includes not only the ancestors of crocodiles and whales, but also the ancestors of human beings. And this, of course, i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/394/kenneth-r-miller-17867_also_as-you-know-the-fossil-record-includes-n_3007972.png" --- # As you know, the fossil record includes not only the… ![“As you know, the fossil record includes not only the ancestors of crocodiles and whales, but also the ancestors of human beings. And this, of course, is why evolution remains controversial.” quote by Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/394/kenneth-r-miller-17867_also_as-you-know-the-fossil-record-includes-n_3007972.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/394/kenneth-r-miller-17867_also_as-you-know-the-fossil-record-includes-n_3007972.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/394/kenneth-r-miller-17867_also_as-you-know-the-fossil-record-includes-n_3007972.png) > “As you know, the fossil record includes not only the ancestors of crocodiles and whales, but also the ancestors of human beings. And this, of course, is why evolution remains controversial.” [Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-r-miller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Evolutionary biology shows that fossil records contain ancestors of many species, including humans, highlighting why evolution is debated. **In simple terms:** Fossils prove diverse ancestors, causing debate. Key Takeaway Understand scientific evidence for evolution. Themes science education controversy Mood inquisitive serious Type explanatory educational When to use this quote - teaching biology - public science discussions Key Concepts evolutionary theory fossil record Questions to Reflect On - Why does evolution spark controversy? - How can we improve public understanding? A Different Perspective Complex data can be misinterpreted. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ancestors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancestors/) [Controversial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/controversial/) [Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Whales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whales/) ## Related quotes > [“...but I still think that to the unprejudiced, the fossil record of plants is in favor of special creation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-j-h-corner/but-i-still-think-that-to-the-unprejudiced-the-fossil-record-of/) E.J.H. Corner > [“Every word Martone sets down, finally, a choice that limits the universe, their trail across the page a fossil record of some life's life-story.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-martone/every-word-martone-sets-down-finally-a-choice-that-limits-the/) Michael Martone > [The extreme rarity of transitional forms in the fossil record persists as the trade secret of paleontology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/the-extreme-rarity-of-transitional-forms-in-the-fossil-record-2/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [What the fossil record does do is to force us to contemplate our place on the planet. We are but one species of several…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-leakey/what-the-fossil-record-does-do-is-to-force-us-to-contemplate-our/) [Louise Leakey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-leakey/) > [Since we proposed punctuated equilibria to explain trends, it is infuriating to be quoted again and again by creationists-whether through design or stupidity, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/since-we-proposed-punctuated-equilibria-to-explain-trends-it-is/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [“The fossil record implies trial and error, an inability to anticipate the future, features inconsistent with an efficient Great Designer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/the-fossil-record-implies-trial-and-error-an-inability-to-anticipate-2/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [The fossil record implies trial and error, an inability to anticipate the future, features inconsistent with an efficient Great Designer (although not with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/the-fossil-record-implies-trial-and-error-an-inability-to-anticipate/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [The known fossil record fails to document a single example of phyletic evolution i.e., a species becoming a new species accomplishing a major morphological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-m-stanley/the-known-fossil-record-fails-to-document-a-single-example-of/) Steven M. Stanley > [“The idea that one can go to the fossil record and expect to empirically recover an ancestor-descendant sequence, be it of species, genera, families,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-j-nelson/the-idea-that-one-can-go-to-the-fossil-record-and-expect-to/) Gareth J. Nelson > [The fossil record is incredible when it preserves things, but it's not a complete record.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-horner/the-fossil-record-is-incredible-when-it-preserves-things-but-it-s-not/) [Jack Horner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-horner/) > [The fossil record contains no trace of these preliminary stages in the development of many-celled organisms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jastrow/the-fossil-record-contains-no-trace-of-these-preliminary-stages-in/) [Robert Jastrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jastrow/) > [Darwin's prediction of rampant, albeit gradual, change affecting all lineages through time is refuted. The record is there, and the record speaks for tremendous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niles-eldredge/darwin-s-prediction-of-rampant-albeit-gradual-change-affecting-all/) [Niles Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niles-eldredge/) > [“The phrase 'the fossil record' sounds impressive and authoritative. As used by some persons it becomes, as intended, intimidating, taking on the aura of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-j-nelson/the-phrase-the-fossil-record-sounds-impressive-and-authoritative-as/) Gareth J. Nelson > [“Each plant and animal is exquisitely made; should not a supremely competent Designer have been able to make the intended variety from the start?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/each-plant-and-animal-is-exquisitely-made-should-not-a-supremely/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [“The fossil record is always there, whether or not you discover it. The brittle ghosts of the past. Memory is not like the surface…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/the-fossil-record-is-always-there-whether-or-not-you-discover-it-the/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) ## More by Kenneth R. Miller > [Like many other scientists who hold the Catholic faith, I see the Creator's plan and purpose fulfilled in our universe. I see a planet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/like-many-other-scientists-who-hold-the-catholic-faith-i-see-the/) [Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-r-miller/) > [The argument for intelligent design basically depends on saying, 'You haven't answered every question with evolution,'... Well, guess what? Science can't answer every question](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/the-argument-for-intelligent-design-basically-depends-on-saying-you/) [Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-r-miller/) > [Evolution isn't just a take-it-or-leave-it story about where we came from. It's an epic at the centre of life itself. It tells us we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/evolution-isn-t-just-a-take-it-or-leave-it-story-about-where-we-came/) [Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-r-miller/) > [For much of history it was possible to believe that the great diversity of life on Earth was a fixed creation, that the living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/for-much-of-history-it-was-possible-to-believe-that-the-great/) [Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-r-miller/) > [The simple reason no embryo can develop without at least one X chromosome is that it's the X, not the Y, that is loaded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/the-simple-reason-no-embryo-can-develop-without-at-least-one-x/) [Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-r-miller/) > [The American creationist movement has entirely bypassed the scientific forum and has concentrated instead on political lobbying and on taking its case to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/the-american-creationist-movement-has-entirely-bypassed-the/) [Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-r-miller/) > [A number of well-understood mechanisms, including single gene mutations, produce changes that qualify as macroevolution. These include heterochronic mutations that alter structures by changing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/a-number-of-well-understood-mechanisms-including-single-gene/) [Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-r-miller/) > [From Roger Bacon, the 13th century Franciscan who pioneered the scientific method, to George Lemaitre, the 20th century Belgian priest who first developed a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/from-roger-bacon-the-13th-century-franciscan-who-pioneered-the/) [Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-r-miller/) > [All too often, the word 'religion' has become identified with those promoting a frankly anti-scientific view of nature and of our place in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/all-too-often-the-word-religion-has-become-identified-with-those/) [Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-r-miller/) > [We know from astronomy that the universe had a beginning, from physics that the future is both open and unpredictable, from geology and paleontology…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/we-know-from-astronomy-that-the-universe-had-a-beginning-from-physics/) [Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-r-miller/) > [Modern science developed in the context of western religious thought, was nurtured in universities first established for religious reasons, and owes some of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/modern-science-developed-in-the-context-of-western-religious-thought/) [Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-r-miller/) > [Evolution isn't just a story about where we came from. It's an epic at the center of life itself. Far from robbing our lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/evolution-isn-t-just-a-story-about-where-we-came-from-it-s-an-epic-at/) [Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-r-miller/) > [Science is about nature. And God, if he exists, transcends nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/science-is-about-nature-and-god-if-he-exists-transcends-nature/) [Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-r-miller/) > ['Intelligent Design,' the relabeled, repackaged form of American creationism, has always had a problem. It just can't seem to produce any evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/intelligent-design-the-relabeled-repackaged-form-of-american/) [Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-r-miller/) > [We don't regard any scientific theory as the absolute truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/we-don-t-regard-any-scientific-theory-as-the-absolute-truth/) [Kenneth R. 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