As scientists and historians of science at the University of Oklahoma, we protest the use of disclaimers or censorship of textbooks that explain biological evolution. The disclaimer approved by the state textbook committee not only misconstrues the theory of evolution, it misrepresents the meaning of scientific theory, which is a system of interconnected ideas that have been repeatedly supported by evidence and is the closest thing to explanatory truth in any science. By their action, the textbook committee demonstrates that it is either unaware of or has chosen to ignore the extraordinary wealth of factual evidence, from biology, biochemistry, and the physical and earth sciences, that supports the theory of evolution. Their decision also fails to recognize the overwhelming acceptance of evolution by the international scientific community as the only and sufficient natural explanation for diversification of life on earth.

Biological evolution, or descent with modification, is repeatedly observed in natural populations and is inferred from 3.5 billion years of fossil record and from DNA sequences of living organisms; it is characteristic of all forms of life. The theory of evolution, which explains the processes by which biological change occurs, is the central unifying concept in biology, with explanatory power on an even footing with quantum mechanics and general relativity in physics.

The same evolutionary processes that produce adaptations and species in nature (i.e. nonrandom natural selection acting on random mutations) are being borrowed by industry to produce computer-evolved designs for products as diverse as computer software, antibiotics, electronic circuits, and airplanes. By redirecting microbial evolution, Darwinian medicine is revolutionizing the way physicians combat public-health problems. Actions intent on stifling the teaching of evolution not only deprive Oklahoma's children of basic science, they are likely to have a negative impact on producing the educated workforce needed to attract high tech industry to the state. 

Dr. Ola M. Fincke, Associate Professor, Zoology 
Dr. Caryn Vaughn, Associate Professor, Zoology; Director, OK Biological Survey
Dr. William Shelton, Associate Professor, Zoology
Dr. Michael Kaspari, Assistant Professor, Zoology
Dr. Gary Wellborn, Assistant Professor, Zoology
Dr. Thomas S. Ray, Professor, Zoology
Dr. J. Bastian, GL Cross Professor, Zoology
Dr. Ari Berkowitz, Assistant Professor, Zoology
Dr. P.M. Hopkins, Professor, Zoology
Dr. David S. Durica, Associate Professor, Zoology
Dr. Barbara Safiejko-Mroczka, Instructor, Zoology
Dr. Frank J. Sonleitner, Associate Professor, Zoology
Dr. Victor H. Hutchison, GL Cross Professor, Zoology
Dr. Don Wilson, Associate Professor, Zoology
Dr. P.L. Schwagmeyer, Professor, Zoology
Dr. Edith C. Marsh-Matthews, Assistant Professor, Zoology & OMNH
Dr. Richard E. Broughton, Ph.D., Oklahoma Biological Survey
Dr. Rosemary Knapp, Assistant Professor, Zoology
Dr. James N. Thompson, SR Noble Professor & Chair, Zoology
Dr. Douglas Mock, EGH Presidential Professor, Zoology
Dr. Marielle Hoefnagels, Assistant Professor, Zoology and Botany & Microbiology
Dr. Regina Sullivan, Associate Professor, Zoology
Dr. Doug D. Gaffin, Associate Professor, Zoology
Dr. Paul Bell, Professor, Zoology; Dean, Arts and Sciences
Dr. Laurie Vitt, Professor, Zoology; Curator, SNOMNH
Dr. Lawrence J. Weider, Associate Professor, Zoology; Director, OU Bio. Station
Dr. William J. Matthews, Professor, Zoology; Curator, SNOMNH
Dr. Janalee P. Caldwell, Associate Professor, Zoology; Curator, SNOMNH
Dr. Gary D. Schnell, Professor, Zoology; Assoc. Director of Research, SNOMNH
Dr. R. Cifelli, Professor, Zoology; Curator, SNOMNH
Dr. M. Mares, Professor, Zoology; Curator and Director, SNOMNH
Dr. Nick J. Czaplewski, Staff Curator, SNOMNH
Dr. Janet K. Braun, Staff Curator, SNOMNH
Dr. Bruce Hoagland, Assistant Professor, Geography; OK Biological Survey
Dr. Eddie Carol Smith, Professor, Chemistry & Biochemistry
Dr. Mark V. Lomolino, Associate Professor, Zoology; OK Biological Survey
Dr. Mia Molvray, Assistant Professor, Botany & Microbiology
Dr. Paul J. Kores, Assistant Professor, Botany & Microbiology; OK Bio. Survey
Dr. Wayne Elisens, Associate Professor, Botany & Microbiology
Dr. Ralph Tanner, Associate Professor, Botany & Microbiology
Dr. John Skvarla, GL Cross Professor, Botany & Microbiology
Dr. Leonard Beevers, GL Cross Professor and Chair, Botany & Microbiology
Dr. John Fletcher, Professor, Botany & Microbiology
Dr. John Downard, Associate Professor, Botany & Microbiology
Dr. John Lancaster, Professor, Botany & Microbiology
Dr. David McCarthy, Associate Professor, Botany & Microbiology
Dr. YiQi Luo, Associate Professor, Botany & Microbiology
Dr. Jimmy Ballard, Assistant Professor, Botany & Microbiology
Dr. Joseph Suflita, GL Cross Research Professor, Botany & Microbiology
Dr. Lee Krumholz, Assistant Professor, Botany & Microbiology
Dr. Linda Wallace, Professor, Botany & Microbiology
Dr. David Nagle, Associate Professor, Botany & Microbiology
Dr. Scott Russell, Professor, Botany & Microbiology; Director of Noble EM Lab
Dr. Michael McInerney, Professor, Botany & Microbiology
Dr. Bruce A. Roe, GL Cross Professor, Chemistry & Biochemistry
Dr. Michael R. Abraham, Professor, Chemistry & Biochemistry
Dr. Roland E. Lehr, Professor, Chemistry & Biochemistry
Dr. Michael T. Ashby, Associate Professor, Chemistry & Biochemistry
Dr. Kenneth M. Nicholas, Professor, Chemistry & Biochemistry
Dr. Ann West, Assistant Professor, Chemistry & Biochemistry
Dr. Dick van der Helm, Chemistry & Biochemistry
Dr. Radi Wehmshulte, Assistant Professor, Chemistry & Biochemistry
Dr. Robert P. Housa, Assistant Professor, Chemistry & Biochemistry
Dr. Ronald L. Halterman, Professor, Chemistry & Biochemistry
Dr. Philip E. Klebba, Associate Professor, Chemistry & Biochemistry
Dr. George B. Richter-Addo, Associate Professor, Chemistry & Biochemistry
Dr. Paul F. Cook, Kerr Centeni Professor and Chair, Chemistry & Biochemistry
Dr. Michael Nunley, Assistant Professor, Anthropology
Dr. Patricia Gilman, Associate Professor, Anthropology
Dr, Susan Vehik, Associate Professor, Anthropology
Dr. Richard Pailes, Associate Professor, Anthropology
Dr. Morris Foster, Associate Professor, Anthropology
Dr. Circe Sturm, Assistant Professor, Anthropology
Dr. Robert Brooks, Adjunct Associate Professor, Anthropology
Dr. Paul Minnis, Associate Professor, Anthropology
Dr. Lisa Lefler, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Anthropology
Dr. Margaret Bender, Assistant Professor, Anthropology
Dr. Marcia Haag, Visiting Assistant Professor, Anthropology
Dr. Lesley Rankin-Hill, Associate Professor, Anthropology
Dr. Karl Rambo, Visiting Assistant Professor, Anthropology
Dr. John Monaghan, Visiting Associate Professor, Anthropology
Dr. Don Wyckoff, Associate Professor, Anthropology
Dr. Stewart Ryan, Associate Professor, Physics & Astronomy
Dr. Ryan E. Doezema, Professor and Chair, Physics & Astronomy
Dr. Sheena Murphy, Assistant Professor, Physics & Astronomy
Dr. John Cowan, Professor, Physics & Astronomy
Dr. Matthew B. Johnson, Assistant Professor, Physics & Astronomy
Dr. Gregory A. Parker, Professor, Physics & Astronomy
Dr. Neil Shafer-Ray, Assistant Professor, Physics & Astronomy
Dr. William Romanishin, Associate Professor, Physics & Astronomy
Dr. Eric Abraham, Assistant Professor, Physics & Astronomy
Dr. Edward Baron, Associate Professor, Physics & Astronomy
Dr. Bruce Mason, Associate Professor, Physics & Astronomy
Dr. Kimball A. Milton, Professor, Physics & Astronomy
Dr. Philip Gutierrez, Associate Professor, Physics & Astronomy
Dr. Kieran Mullen, Assistant Professor, Physics & Astronomy
Dr. George R. Kalbfleisch, Professor Emeritus, Physics & Astronomy
Dr. John E. Furneaux, Professor, Physics & Astronomy
Dr. Michael B. Santos, Associate Professor, Physics & Astronomy
Dr. Robert Petry, Professor Emeritus, Physics & Astronomy
Dr. Patrick Skubic, Professor, Physics & Astronomy
Dr. Richard C. Henry, Professor, Physics & Astronomy
Dr. Mark Keil, Professor, Physics & Astronomy
Dr. David Branch, Professor, Physics & Astronomy
Dr. Ronald Kantowski, Professor, Physics & Astronomy
Dr. Thomas A. Dewers, Associate Professor, Geology & Geophysics
Dr. R. Douglas Elmore, Klabzuba Professor, Geology & Geophysics
Dr. M. Charles Gilbert, Professor, Geology & Geophysics
Dr. David London, Professor & Interim Director, Geology & Geophysics
Dr. Richard A. Lupia, Assistant Professor, Geology & Geophysics
Dr. Kevin J. Smart, Assistant Professor, Geology & Geophysics
Dr. Michael Soreghan, Lecturer, Geology & Geophysics
Dr. Barry L. Weaver, Associate Professor, Geology & Geophysics
Dr. Stephen R. Westrop, Professor, Geology & Geophysics
Dr. Gerilyn S. Soreghan, Assistant Professor, Geology & Geophysics
Dr. Charles W. Harper, Jr. Professor, Geology & Geophysics
Dr. Judson L. Ahern Associate Professor, Geology & Geophysics
Dr. Peter Barker, Professor, History of Science
Dr. Katherine Pandora, Assistant Professor, History of Science
Dr. Michael S. Reidy, Visiting Assistant Professor, History of Science
Dr. Marilyn Ogilvie, Curator, History of Science Collections; Adjunct Profesor
Dr. Judith C. Whitecotton, Visiting Instructor, History of Science Collections
Dr. Kenneth L. Taylor, Professor, History of Science
Dr. Philippe Foret , Assistant Professor of Geography; Affiliate History of Science
Dr. Teresa K. DeBacker, Assistant Professor, Educational Psychology