In response to “Evolution: theory, not fact,” in Feb. 7 edition of Technician.

I have been studying aspects of evolution and Natural Selection for nearly seven years. In your column you state a theory is defined as “an unproven assumption.” While this is true, it is only one of many definitions of the term theory.

When people refer to the theory of evolution they are doing so while defining theory as “a plausible or scientifically acceptable general principle or body of principles offered to explain a phenomena.” The reason why they use this definition, and why evolution is plausible and scientifically acceptable, is because there is an overwhelming amount of evidence supporting the theory of evolution.

One example providing evidence for the theory of evolution is the case of observed evolution from the Lenski lab where “one of the populations [of bacteria] demonstrated a dramatic change, and evolved to become capable of utilizing citrate, a carbon source in their flasks that E. coli cannot normally use.” It is crucial to use the proper definition of the term theory to ensure that misconceptions don’t arise when students are taught about evolution.

Steven Vensko

doctoral candidate, genetics department