[ShadowAce]

So, we are talking about very long periods of time indeed, and slow, slow baby-steps for each advancement.

Yes we are--Last I heard, it takes about a million years for each major advancement.

Now, explain to me how non-sexual-reproducing life (multi-cell amoebas) can produce sexually reproducing life, not once, but twice, and in the same neighborhood on the planet, in the same lifespan, and each of the (at least) two then be sexually compatible (not two males, and not two females).

Then explain how that is possible within only 2 billion years--roughly 2,000 advancements.

[BroJoeK]

ShadowAce: "Last I heard, it takes about a million years for each major advancement."

An arbitrary number, perhaps based on the natural length of time for complete speciation, but of no relevance to early single-celled life, or the speed of evolution generally.

ShadowAce: "...explain to me how non-sexual-reproducing life (multi-cell amoebas) can produce sexually reproducing life, not once, but twice, and in the same neighborhood on the planet, in the same lifespan, and each of the (at least) two then be sexually compatible (not two males, and not two females)."

Let me suggest to you two books on my current reading list:

Pross from 2012 and Lane from 2015:

ShadowAce: "Then explain how that is possible within only 2 billion years--roughly 2,000 advancements."

See my answer to your first comment above.