This is why the idea of ‘irreducible complexity’ has traction (IMO). Some molecular machines don’t appear to have a favorable function until after they are assembled, but according to Darwinism they would have to be assembled step-by-step, and that only works when each step gives that organism a selective advantage over those that don’t have it (allowing them to reproduce more and spread that gene/adaption through the population).

Punctuated Equilibrium (which isn’t a widely accepted evolutionary mechanism) is when organisms stay pretty much the same for long stretches of time, and then very quickly have a whole host of changes, creating new organisms and body plans, which then exist for long stretches of time before rapid changes again. Gould suggested this because it is very often what is observed in the fossil record. You see lots and lots of time where everything looks the same, and then all of the sudden, bunches of new organisms. look for “Cambrian Explosion” for examples of this.

Darwinism is accepted as the filter to interpret observations. In their minds it doesn’t need defending. But, when in a ‘safe place’, I’m certain they would all agree that there are areas that need better explanation.

Pick up any biological journal and look at the research on evolution… it’s all new knowledge that is attempting to better explain where current knowledge is lacking.

In one of the other posts linked at the bottom I refer to the battling explanations of how bird flight evolved. There is not agreement.. at least two contradictory views are in the mix. Both are darwinian and both have good criticisms of the other, but they can’t both be true. Evolution needs some ironing.

Take a look at work by W.F. Doolittle… he’s an evolutionist and darwinian, but his research has presented serious problems to the present day understanding of Darwin’s universal tree of life. He suggested there were multiple, independent instances of life origins, and data has supported him. That throws a real wrench in explaining how all life shares a genetic code (which is a major argument for common descent).
Then, problems come from the other side too, because many organisms have a modified genetic code, that *isn’t* the same as everything else. Where did these guys come from?