Xstar writes:
I have searched high and low to find any evidence supporting a beneficial mutation.
I don't believe you.
Xstar writes:
All I have ever seen is mutations where it seems as though it would hinder the creature, not help it.
Really? After all that high and low searching?
Mutations that effect fitness basically means mutations that are anything other than neutral. Detrimental mutations are far more common than beneficial ones.
In this paper, however, they found that a surprisingly high proportion of the fitness effecting mutations in their yeast experiment were beneficial (5.75%).
Beneficial mutations in yeast
Had your high and low searching led you to the idea of typing "beneficial mutations" into Google Scholar, you could have found this in a few minutes, and a lot more besides.
Xstar writes:
Also, I have never seen any evidence of a creature gaining anything new, which be required for the evolution theory.
Again, your high and low searching seems to have let you down. Where have you been looking? In your closet?
Let's start with a pretty monkey, and an easy to read article.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/...ases/2002/03/020304081153.htm
Here, the researchers have identified a gene duplication that has mutated to create a new and useful enzyme, thus adding a new feature to the digestive system of a leaf eating monkey. That's something new, and such examples are easily found.
I'll give you some more when you've digested the paper and the article.
Xstar writes:
This really makes me question evolution, since it's based completely off mutations.
I don't think that's what makes you question evolution, and I don't think you're really searching high and low, but that's another subject.
Welcome to EvC.
Edited by bluegenes, : added missing word