text: Transmutation is a little used English word and biological term.  In plain English, it means to change the nature of something.  In biology, it means to change one species into another species; "speciation" is more commonly used.  Transmutation is commonly used in nuclear physics where it refers to changing one element into another by changing the element's nucleus.\n\nIn the book, "Macroevolution" Steven Stanley lists a half dozen confirmed speciation events which occurred in modern times.\n\nOne classic example of beneficial mutations is the peppered moth.  In its original form, about half of individuals were light and half dark.  When pollution darkened tree trunks, the light peppered moths stood out and were preferentially eaten.  The composition of the population shifted to mostly dark colored moths with only a few percent light colored ones.\n\nAdditions to the genetic code of a species occur when an error during reproduction results in (1) part of the species' DNA is copied twice and (2) DNA from another species is incorporated.\n\nIcarus62's three statements do deal with mIcroevolution.  What you don't understand, is that mIcroevolution is simply mAcroevolution observed over a short time.  Read his question!!  Basically, he was saying, "We all agree that mIcroevolution occurs.  Given this, what is to stop mAcroevolution from occuring?"  \n\nTo be taken seriously, creationists will have to do something other than nitpick at evolutionary theory.  They must develop theories of their own.  Creationists are a laughingstock because they make no attempt at generating testable scientific theories, and then testing them.\n\nIcarus62, good job!