[RobbyS]

How so? Darwin's theory assumes pre-existing life and the morphing of simple forms into more complex forms in a gradual process. Spontaneous generation is a theory that long preceded Darwin, but so far the maxim, "life comes from life." has yet to be disproved. The Roddenberry notion of a galaxy swarming with humanoid life forms remains a fantasy as does the idea of a Starship Enterprise. I am reminded of a 17th century play by Cyrano about the balloonist who sail to the moon. That was before the scientist Pascal went beyond the speculators, carried a barometer up the mountain and showed that as he ascended, the air became attenuated as the pressure dropped.

[OldNavyVet]

Darwin's theory assumes pre-existing life

Not quite true. From Steve Jones (page 347) we have: "... I should infer from analogy that probably all the organic beings which have ever lived on this Earth have descended from some one primordial form, into which life was first breathed."