It is possible for the flagellum to have evolved through natural selection

It is possible for the flagellum to have evolved through natural selection
Subjects
Bacteria	Evolution
Life
Linking arguments
The actions of an intelligent designer explain the diversity of life on Earth
Tweet
Wiki articles by viewpoint
Wikipedia (Neutral): Evolution of flagella
Citizendium (Neutral, academic): Evolution
Debatepedia (Neutral, debates): Debate: Evolution
Wikinfo (Sympathetic): Evolution
WhyItIsTerrible (Critical): None
Anarchopedia (Anarchist): None
WikiIslam (anti-Islamic): Qur'an and Theory of Evolution
Atheism Wiki (Atheist): Theory of Evolution
Mises.org (Austro-libertarian): None
Bahaikipedia (Bahá’í): None
IronChariots (Biblical, counter-apologetics): Evolution
Dhamma Wiki (Buddhist, Theravada): Evolution
Christianity Knowledge Base (Christian): Evolution
WikiChristian (Christian): Creation Science, Intelligent Design And Evolution
A Storehouse of Knowledge (Christian): Irreducible complexity
WikiSynergy (Conspiracy theories, inclusive): None
Creation Wiki (Creationist): Irreducible complexity
FreeThoughtPedia (FreeThought): Argument from irreducible complexity
Theopedia (Evangelical Protestant): Evolution
EvoWiki (Evolutionary science): Irreducible complexity
Hindupedia (Hindu): None
Judaism Wiki (Jewish): None
dKosopedia (Left-wing, Americentric): Teaching Evolution
LeftSpace (Left-wing, Americentric): None
Liberapedia (Left-wing, Americentric): Theory of evolution
LGBT Project (LGBT): None
Messianic (Messianic Jewish): None
Mormon Wiki (Mormon): Evolution
MuslimWiki (Muslim): None
Metapedia (Neo-Nazi): Evolution
Wikipagan (Neopagan): None
Objectivism Wiki (Objectivist): None
Orthodox (Orthodox Christian): Evolution
Religion Wiki (Religious): Irreducible complexity
Conservapedia (Right-wing, Americentric, Christian conservative): Irreducible complexity
Ameriwiki (Right-wing, Americentric, Christian conservative): Theory of evolution
Scientology (Scientology, independent): None
SikhiWiki (Sikh): Origin of Life and Evolution
RationalWiki (Skeptic): Evolution

Bold text

Supporting arguments

1. Each intermediate step in the development of the flagellum in bacteria is explainable by evolution. Some parts may be adapted from other systems, and the flagellum's complexity is because it is finely-tuned - simpler forms of the system would have been beneficial in their time, as they would have allowed greater mobility than nothing at all.
2. The flagella could have evolved as a separate, symbiotic organism that became fused with its host. This is documented in some species of bacteria, and could be the origins of all flagella.
3. The flagella could have evolved out of the cytoskeleton through ordinary evolutionary processes. Several plausible mechanisms have been proposed, which establishes that the flagella are not examples of irreducible complexity.

Opposing arguments

1. The flagellum is so complex that it can not be reduced to smaller parts. This is called irreducible complexity, and it means that evolution can not explain the origin of the flagellum.
   1. Opponents do not accept the premise that the existence of irreducible complexity is evidence contrary to the theory of evolution.
2. The flagellum is a molecular machine, and it can not be reduced beyond a certain point without losing all potential function. This makes it irreducibly complex.
3. The flagellum consists of 40 parts, none of which are beneficial on their own. Evolution through natural selection requires that each part be beneficial, so this establishes that evolution can not explain the development of the flagellum.
   1. Supporters do not accept the premise that evolution requires each part of an organism to be beneficial.