Darwin's Doubt: The Explosive Origin of Animal Life and the Case for Intelligent Design

by Stephen C. Meyer

According to Darwin’s theory, the differences in form, or “morphological distance,” between evolving organisms should increase gradually over time as small-scale variations accumulate by natural selection to produce increasingly complex forms and structures (including, eventually, new body plans).

Yet, on a Darwinian view, small-scale variations and differences should arise first, gradually giving rise to larger-scale differences in form—just the opposite of the pattern evident in the fossil record.

they argue that soft and hard parts had to arise together.17

Which is what Malcolm also said. And raises the question of simultaneously mutating cooperative traits.

A best-case Darwinian scenario for the origin of such a system would, therefore, envision the “co-evolution” of these separate anatomical subsystems in a coordinated fashion, since some of these anatomical subsystems confer a functional advantage to the animal largely by supporting, and promoting, the growth and maintenance of the exoskeleton (and vice versa).