Creation Matters

Volume 22 Number 3 A publication of the Creation Research Society May / June 2017

Palmaris Longus Muscle: Useless or Useful? by Jerry Bergman, PhD T he palmaris lon- ists to be an gus is a small, “evolutionary left- cord-like muscle over” from our pri- running beneath the skin mate ancestors. It is from the front of the fore- also assumed that fea- arm to the palm of the tures which have be- hand. It is believed by come irrelevant may many Darwinists to be persist if they exert Palmaris longus muscle high-lighted in blue. vestigial (Kigera and neither positive nor negative evolutionary (adapted from Gray’s Anatomy, public domain) Mukwaya, 2011). Vestigial organs are those pressure. For this reason, it has long been that were useful in the past, but are useless believed to have functioned in gripping tree termed vestigial in humans due to the claim or largely useless today. This slender, elon- branches and other objects in our purported that palmaris longus serves no apparent gated, spindle-shaped muscle is located on common ancestry with the chimpanzees function in humans. the medial side of the flexor carpi radialis. (Sebastin, et al., 2005b). The muscle is The palmaris is widest in the middle, and believed to have been particularly helpful Common descent explanation narrowest at both the proximal and distal for hanging from trees, as is common in The evolutionary interpretation of the mus- attachments (Drake, et al., 2005). many primates (Rogers, 2017). The pal- cle’s presence in humans assumes that the maris longus is often assumed by evolution- It is regarded as vestigial because it is ... continued on p. 5

The Greatest Mathematician Ever by Paul G. Humber B efore entering into the esoteric, let reason. For units of measure, He used the than (few < many, cf., Lk 12:47–48). us start by saying that algebra and cubit (Mt 6:27), the measure (Mt 13:33), geometry are two major divisions and the mile (Mt 5:41). He also used count- Circles and spheres of mathematics. Algebra deals with sets of ing numbers: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 11,12, 18, 50, Circles and spheres are very important in numbers, including the variable “x.” Some 70, 80, 100, 500, 4000, 5000, 10,000 and geometry. Isaiah 40:22 says that He “sits may object that “x” is not a number, but it 20,000 (cf., Mt 10:29, Mt 12:40, Mt 13:33, upon the circle of the earth.” It may well is. The “x” is a definite but unspecified Mt 16:9–10, Mt 19:28, Mt 20:6, Mk 14:30, be that the word used for “circle” could also number. For example, there are two vari- Lk 7:41, Lk 10:1, Lk 13:4, Lk 14:31, Lk be rendered “sphere.” Prov 8:27 says, “He ables in this algebraic equation: x2 + y2 = 16:7, Jn 4:35), and fractions. For example, inscribed a circle on the face of the deep.” 1. What is it saying? In “math-speak,” it He received a fraction from Zacchaeus (½; In Acts 1:8, Jesus spoke of the “remotest refers to the set of all ordered pairs such cf., Lk 19:8), and referred to another in the part [singular]” of the earth. On a sphere, that the distance to (0,0) is the constant, tithe. the remotest “part” is the other end of the “1.” Does this relate to Jesus? He multiplied, as did Zacchaeus (cf., diameter from where you stand, going Math counts Mt 18:22, 70 X 7; Mt 13:8; and Lk 19:8) through the earth’s center, and intersecting and also subtracted (100 - 1 = 99 in Mt the opposite side of the globe. The Lord Jesus (Creator Christ) is the orig- 18:12; and 10 - 1 = 9 in Lk 17:17). His The Lord Jesus relates to infinity, for inator of calculus, infinitesimals, infinity, disciple, Luke, used the term “innumerable” we read in John 3:34, “He whom God hath and every geometric shape (see below), but (suggestive of infinity), and the Lord also He also expects us to know how to measure, distinguished order as in greater than/less count, add, subtract, divide, multiply, and ... continued on p. 3 by Don DeYoung, PhD Electron Math

T he three building blocks of all at- the surface of a penny scrapes off countless oms are protons, neutrons, and invisible electrons. electrons. The first two compo- The electric charge of an electron is nents are made up of smaller particles called -1.6x10-19 coulombs. The coulomb unit of quarks. Electrons, in contrast, have no charge is the amount that flows past a point smaller components in the Standard Model See the newest in a wire in one second when the current is of physics. No size or internal structure has one ampere; that is, been measured for electrons, yet they have books and videos mass, electric charge, and angular momen- 1 amp = 1 coulomb/second. tum. One might suggest that current physics A flashlight produces about one amp experiments and theory are simply unable of current. This means that 6.25x1018 elec- Visit the CRS to explore the inner parts of an electron. trons flow past a point in the flashlight Electrons show both particle and wave circuit each second. The battery is not the Bookstore properties. In their wave nature, electrons source of electrons, but it causes the move- are non-localized and are spread completely ment of electrons already present in the around the nucleus in their atomic orbits. flashlight's metal circuit. The “drift veloci- www.CRSbooks.org In contrast, in the particle nature, using the ty” of the countless electrons past a point Bohr atomic model, inner electrons orbit in the circuit is actually small, only about 877-CRS-BOOK the nucleus in perpetual motion at 1/137 the 0.06 centimeters/second, a distance of one speed of light (the fine structure constant), meter in 27 minutes. One can only imagine or 1400 miles/second (about 2200 km/sec). the immense crowd of electrons jostling though the flashlight’s glowing bulb. Move- The mass of a single electron is ment of the electrons between orbital energy 9.11x10-31 kg. This is 1836 times less than levels leads to the visible light with a fila- that of a proton, which shows that electrons ment temperature of about 4600°F are a minor contributor to an atom’s total (2250°C). Creation details on the atomic mass. A single penny, whether made of scale of electrons are truly amazing. copper or zinc, contains about 1024 elec- trons. This number exceeds the estimate of total sand grains on all the seashores of the world. Simply rubbing your finger across

Creation Matters

ISSN 1094-6632 Contents Volume 22, Number 3 May / June 2017 Copyright © 2017 Creation Research Society Palmaris Longus Muscle: Useless or Useful?...... 1 All rights reserved. The Greatest Mathematician Ever...... 1 Editor: Glen W. Wolfrom Math Matters: Electron Math...... 2 Assistant Editor: Matters of Fact: Adaptation...... 6 Jean K. Lightner For advertising rates and information for Speaking of Science authors: Instinct: ‘Somehow’ Is Not an Evolutionary Explanation...... 7 Saving Evolution – a New Narrative about Dinosaur Soft Tissue.8 Glen W. Wolfrom, Editor Dinosaur Evolutionary Tree Is All Wrong...... 8 Creation Research Society 6801 N. Highway 89 Letters Chino Valley, AZ 86323-9186 CRS: More than Just Model Building...... 9 Discrediting Evolution Is Necessary...... 10 Response: The Mission of the CRS Is Still Model Building...... 10 Email: [email protected] Phone: 928.636.1153 Quarterly Research Matters...... 11 Creation Research Society Website: All by Design: Reflecting on the Creator...... 12 www.creationresearch.org Articles published in Creation Matters represent the opinions and beliefs of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the CRS.

2 | Creation Research Society Mathematician comets, and stars. in 3 days’” (Mt 26:61). Later, when Jesus The verse contin- was on the cross, a mocker ordered, “You ...continued from page 1 ues, “And the who are going to destroy the temple and heavens are the rebuild it in 3 days, save Yourself” (Mt sent [referring to Christ] speaks the words works of Your 27:40). of God, for God gives not the Spirit by hands.” In sum- Is this getting off track? No, the main measure unto Him.” In other words, Jesus mary, Hebrews track is to encourage readers to fall in love has received the Spirit without measure FIGURE 1. com- 1:10 says that the with man’s only hope for heaven. Not only (infinitely). There is also, in that verse, a pound eye. © 2009 by entire universe is He the Greatest Mathematician ever, but reference to the “Greatest 3”—God the Micha L. Rieser. Wiki- was made by Je- He was/is also the Greatest Prophet. Many media Commons. Father, God the Son, and God the Holy sus, and there are today deny the resurrection of Jesus, but Spirit. Jesus taught that the “Greatest 3” is other verses in the during Jesus’ trials, even His enemies re- the same as the “Greatest 1,” for He said to Bible that affirm the same. Jesus is indeed membered His prediction that He would baptize “in the name [singular] of the Father the Greatest Mathematician ever. raise His own body (“temple”) 3 days after and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Mt Newton being put to death. The trials against Jesus 28:19b). really happened, and we have a historical Geometry Many people would say that Sir Isaac New- record that even Jesus’ enemies affirmed, ton was the greatest mathematician, but viz., that He had predicted His own resur- Previously, we said that algebra is about what did Newton say? He affirmed, rection. False leaders do not predict their sets of numbers. Now we affirm that geom- This most beautiful system of the own resurrections. etry, a second major heading under mathe- sun, planets, and comets, could only matics, deals with sets of points. For proceed from the counsel and domin- Trilobite eyes example, there is a one-to-one correspon- ion of an intelligent and powerful At the beginning of this article, I referred dence between the set of points on a circle Being....This Being governs all to possibly “esoteric” subject matter. I shall with center at the origin and having radius things, not as the soul of the world, resume. The trilobite eye was made by 1 unit, and the set of ordered pairs (algebra) but as Lord over all; and on account Creator Christ. Evolutionist Riccardo Levi- satisfying the equation, x2 + y2 = 1. of his dominion he is wont to be Setti’s beautiful book, (Levi-Set- called Lord God … or Universal This can be extended three dimension- ti, 1995), contains these words: 2 2 2 Ruler. (Newton, 1846; p. 501) ally. For example, x + y + z = 1, is an Among the remains of early life on equation with three variables. The geometric What about tiny little atoms and even earth, the fossil record we find buried shape would be a sphere, and if we were to the sub-particles, like protons, electrons, and in ancient sedimentary rocks bears add the symbol “<” to the equation, the set neutrons? What about quarks and leptons? evidence of an extraordinary group of all points would either be on the surface The Bible, referring to Jesus, affirms that of marine creatures, the trilobites. of the sphere or inside the sphere. We would “in Him all things hold together” (Col 1:17). The position of these invertebrates have a solid globe (think earth) with diam- In other words, all atoms “hold together” in in the [supposed] evolution of the eter 2 (i.e., radius 1). Jesus! kingdom is extraordinary be- cause of their early ascent to a high Are we going a little far afield here? Colossians was written by an apostle, level of functional complexity, de- How does this relate to Jesus? The outer but what did Jesus Himself say? In Mt scribed in fascinating detail by their 10:30, Jesus said that “the very hairs of your surface of the earth approximates a persistent and ubiquitous fossil re- sphere/globe, and the Bible says that Jesus head are all numbered.” How many mathe- mains. (p. 1) “in the beginning laid the foundation of the maticians know the number of hairs on earth” (cf., Heb 1:10, quoting Psalm everyone’s head all over the earth? Hairs Let us continue, as this bears unwitting 102:26). Hebrews 1:8 speaks explicitly are small, and if Jesus had referred to witness to the magnificent ability of our about Jesus (calls Him the “Son”), applying “quarks and leptons,” how many people “Greatest Mathematician.” This evolution- this passage to Him. 2,000 years ago would have understood? ary author continued, Is not Psalm 102 about Yahweh God? The number “3” Trilobites could see their immediate Yes, and Jesus is Yahweh God in human environment with amazingly sophis- flesh. When a math teacher uses a compass I taught mathematics for 3 decades, and I ticated optical devices in the form of to draw a circle on the chalk or white-board, am particularly attracted to the number “3.” large composite eyes, the first use of optics coupled with sensory percep- one can be impressed. Which is more The Lord Himself may also have had a tion in nature. As a unique feat in challenging, to draw a circle on a white- special place for that number. The Trinity may have been one reason, but also in John the history of life, their eye lenses board or to make a spherical earth and hang were shaped to correct for optical it upon nothing? 2:19–20, we read, “Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this temple, and in 3 days I will aberrations, with design identical to Nothing? Job 26:7 says, “He stretches raise it up.’ The Jews then said, ‘It took 46 that proposed (quite independently out the north over empty space and years to build this temple, and will You of any knowledge of trilobites) by Descartes and Huygens. … (p. 1) hangs the earth on nothing.” He did the raise it up in 3 days?’” Even those who same for the sun, moon, comets, and stars! spoke out against Jesus remembered that When we humans construct optical But the words quoted in Hebrews only said number. One witness testified against Jesus elements, we sometimes cement to- that Jesus “laid the foundation of the earth” saying, “This man stated, ‘I am able to gether two lenses that have different — saying nothing about the sun, moon, destroy the temple of God and to rebuild it refractive indices, as a means of Creation Matters Vol. 22 No. 3 May / June | | 3 circumcenter centroid incenter orthocenter

FIGURE 2. The four common types of triangle centers (public domain, Wikimedia Commons).

correcting particular lens defects. In say that the lines are concurrent. It is typical Spirit. There never was nor ever will be a fact, this optical doublet is a device that two lines in a plane will intersect, but Greater Mathematician than the Lord Jesus so typically associated with human that a third should go through the exact same Christ, who also died on the cross and who invention that its discovery in trilo- point as the other two is very special. came alive again 3 days later. bites comes as something of a shock. Of interest are the four common types The realization that trilobites devel- of triangle centers (Figure 2). Every triangle oped and used such devices half a What a mighty Christ we serve! in the universe… billion years ago (sic) makes the What a mighty Cre-A-Tor! shock even greater. And a final dis- 1) … has 3 perpendicular bisectors (1st Let us bow before Him. covery —that the refracting interface triangle). Those three perpendicular bi- Heaven and earth adore Him. between the two lens elements in a sectors always come together at a sin- What a mighty Christ we serve.* trilobite’s eye was designed in ac- gle point. That point-of-centricity is cordance with optical constructions named the circumcenter, as it is equi- worked out by Descartes and Huy- distant from the 3 vertices. You can References gens in the mid-seventeenth century circumscribe a circle about that point Levi-Setti, R. 1995. Trilobites, 2nd Edition. Universi- — borders on sheer science fiction. that touches all 3 vertices. (pp. 44, 54; emphasis added) ty of Chicago Press. 2) … has 3 medians (segments from the Newton, I. 1846. Newton'sPrincipia: The Mathemati- The author of the book was having vertices to midpoints of opposite sides). cal Principles of Natural Philosophy. Translat- difficulty believing that trilobites could do They, too, are always concurrent at a ed by A. Motte. New York: Daniel Adee. this on their own, but naturalism demands single point (2nd triangle). That point is Rieser, M.L. 2009. Trilobite compound eye — Spe- “No God!” He continued, called the centroid. It is the only point cies: Paralejurus sp. Wikimedia Commons. Re- trieved April 14, 2017. By comparing the shape of the as- that is a third the distance from each https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Parale pheric lens exit surfaces constructed side to the opposite vertex. This is true jurus-4.jpg by Huygens and Descartes with the for all 3 medians of any triangle. two lens structures identified by 3) … has 3 angle bisectors, which are al- *Adapted from “What a Mighty God We Serve,” Clarkson … little doubt remains that ways concurrent at a single point, called Hezekiah Walker Lyrics. trilobites utilized the properties of the incenter (3rd triangle). Whereas the Cartesian Ovals more than 400 mil- circumcenter is always equidistant to lion years (sic) before the seven- the 3 vertices, this incenter is always teenth-century masters discovered equidistant from the 3 sides. You can the principle ... The design of the inscribe a circle tangent to the 3 sides trilobite's eye lens could well qualify for a patent disclosure. (p. 57) using the incenter. 4) … has 3 altitudes, and they also are We could continue with the truth that concurrent at a single point, which is mathematics is the basic language of cre- called the orthocenter (4th triangle). ation, illustrating this with examples in na- The orthocenter is not always found ture of the Fibonacci sequence. There is inside the triangle. It will be outside for much mathematics in music and symmetry, obtuse triangles, for which the altitude but let us conclude with the orderliness of lines have to be extended so they will triangles. cross. Triangles Conclusion We have referred to 3 in relation to the All of this points us to a remarkable order- Trinity and the 3 days (prophecy of the liness in the universe. Triangles have a unity Resurrection), but triangles are also marvel- but also a threeness. Infinitely more special ous in relation to 3-ness. Triangles have 3 is God Triune — God the Father, God the vertices and 3 sides. When three lines in a Son (Messiah/Christ), and God the Holy plane come together at a single point, we

4 | Creation Research Society Useless or Useful found its unilateral absence was only 3.3%, undeveloped in Western society. Because it and its bilateral absence only 1.1% of the persists in the majority of the population, it ...continued from page 1 population. The researchers concluded that is logical that it must have a function, even the high level of the muscle’s presence in if we do not yet fully understand its use. muscle was inherited through common de- this study was due to the higher levels of Research, though, has made much progress scent from our supposed, numerous, evolu- manual labor in the population that was in recognizing its important function in tionary ancestors, such as orangutans, which studied (Kigera and Mukwaya, 2011). many people with certain lifestyles, such as still actively employ the muscle (Thejodhar, Clearly, it is one of the most variable mus- some athletes and pianists. et al., 2008). Ironically, our closest putative cles of the entire musculoskeletal system primate relatives, the chimpanzee and goril- (Kose, et al., 2009). References la, do not actively use the muscle; hence the Drake, R.L. W. Vogl, and A. Mitchell. 2005.Gray's muscle also demonstrates much variability Functions of palmaris longus Anatomy for Students. Philadelphia: Elsevier/Churchill Livingstone. in these (Thejodhar, et al.,2008). The palmaris longus muscle is, in fact, Fowlie, C., C. Fuller, and M.K. Pratten. 2012. As- The common descent explanation con- simply another of many variable traits in sessment of the presence/absence of the pal- cludes that, at some stage in the past, our humans that are evidence of overdesign. In maris longus muscle in different sports, and ancestors actively employed the muscle. pronograde monkeys, which use their hands elite and non-elite sport populations. Physio- therapy. 98(2):138-142. When the primate branch began to evolve for locomotion as well as for grasping, this the modern human-thumb apparatus, partic- muscle is almost always present, and is Kigera, J.W. and S. Mukwaya. 2011. Frequency of agenesis palmaris longus through clinical exam- ularly the thenar muscles, the palmaris lon- fairly well developed. We might expect that in certain groups of people, lifestyle, such ination — An East African study. PLoS One. gus became vestigial. As there is no apparent 2011, 6(12):e28997. as participation in athletics, would likewise positive or negative selective pressure for Koo, C.C. and A.H.N. Roberts. 1997. The palmaris the muscle, it remains in most people. It is affect the development of a larger and stron- longus tendon: Another variation in its anato- also hypothesized that its persistence may ger palmaris longus. And that is exactly my. The Journal of Hand Surgery 22(1): 138- be due to the fact that mutations in the genes what researchers have found. Use strength- 139. regulating the muscle may affect other body ens all muscles, large and small, and the Kose, O., O. Adanir, M. Cirpar, M. Kurklu, and M. functions. Vestigiality in humans is disputed palmaris longus is no exception. Komurcu. 2009. The prevalence of absence of the palmaris longus: A study in Turkish popula- by creationists who believe that humans In humans, this small muscle, as we’ve tion. Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Sur- were created as perfect beings; thus, all noted, can be developed if exercised. It is gery 129(5):609–611. organs originally existed for a purpose, generally more common in males compared Rogers, K. 2017. 7 Vestigial features of the human however minor. Creationists therefore sug- to females. This result would be expected body. Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved May gest that the organs that science regards as in view of the fact that males exhibit much 2, 2017 from https://www.britannica.com/list/7- “vestigial” do in fact have a function if more “gross” muscle use and ability, and vestigial-features-of-the-human-body properly understood. women demonstrate much greater “fine” Sebastin, S.J., M.E. Puhaindran, A.Y. Lim, I.J. Lim, muscle use and control. Individuals, male and W.H. Bee. 2005a. The prevalence of ab- Its prevalence in humans sence of the palmaris longus: A study in a Chi- or female, who possess it have an advantage nese population and a review of the literature. The palmaris longus muscle is one of five in accomplishing certain physical tasks. It Journal of Hand Surgery 30(5):525–527. muscles that is part of a complex muscle may help them, for example, to become Sebastin, S.J., A.Y. Lim, W.H. Bee, T.C. Wong, and system that assists with wrist flexion at the better athletes, from trapeze artists to tennis B.V. Methil. 2005b. Does the absence of the wrist joint. Its agonists include the flexor players, or musicians such as pianists (Koo palmaris longus affect grip and pinch strength? carpi radialis and the flexor carpi ulnaris; and Roberts, 1997). Empirical research by Journal of Hand Surgery 30(4):406–408. and its antagonists include the extensor carpi Fowlie et al. (2012) found that for the sports Thejodhar P., B.K. Potu, and R.G. Vasavi. 2008. Un- radialis rongus, extensor carpi radialis bre- that require a dominant-handed, or two- usual palmaris longus muscle. Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery 41(1):95–96. vis, and extensor carpi ulnaris. handed cylindrical grip, the presence of the palmaris longus was significantly higher in Thompson, N.W., B.J. Mockford, and G.W. Cran. About 50 million Americans possess 2001. Absence of the palmaris longus muscle: the palmaris muscle in only one arm, and elite athletes than non-elite athletes. A population study. Ulster Medical Journal, only about 20 million people lack it in both It likely also serves an important prop- 70(1): 22–24. arms (Thompson, et al., 2001). As noted, rioceptive role. Proprioception detects body although it exists in about 86 percent of the motion or position by sensory receptors American population, it is considered ves- found chiefly in muscles, tendons, and joints tigial by Darwinists partly because of its to allow the person to fine-tune body move- small size in humans. Although absent in ment awareness and coordination. It also only 14 percent of the population, studies has a role in stabilizing the palm or fascia, have documented that the palmaris longus and aids in ante position and pronation of prevalence or absence varies greatly in dif- the thumb (Kose, 2009, p. 611). More stud- ferent ethnic groups. ies of this muscle are needed to help deter- Between 5.5 and 24% of European and mine the specific advantages that it confers North American Caucasian populations, and upon its possessor. from 4.6 to 26.6% of Asian populations Conclusion (Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Turkish, Malay- sian) lack the muscle (Kose, et al., 2009; The palmaris longus in the human forearm Sebastin, et al., 2005a). One African study is not vestigial, but may be small and often Creation Matters Vol. 22 No. 3 May / June | | 5 by Adaptation Jean K. Lightner, DVM, MS

Editor’s note: You may submit your question to Dr. from the latter (Lightner, 2016a), and cre- non-adaptive plasticity was defined as a Jean Lightner at [email protected]. It will not be possible to provide an answer for each question, ationists have suggested that designed change in gene expression in the opposite but she will choose those which have a broad appeal mechanisms play as critical a role here as direction from that observed in adaptive and lend themselves to relatively short answers. they do in physiologic adaptation (e.g., (genetic) evolution. Yet, in the well-studied Q What is Adaptation? Lightner, 2014). This means that a solid example of adaptation to high altitudes, understanding of physiologic adaptation physiologic adaptation is in the opposite should provide a useful basis for under- direction as the genetic adaptation. There A The word adaptation can be used standing genetic adaptation. are solid physiologic reasons for this design, several different ways in biology. Evolution and adaptation as some of the known genetic changes are Normal physiology important at higher altitudes where the When evolutionary biologists refer to adap- physiologic changes are less effective (re- Physiologic adaptation operates constantly tation, they are thinking of genetic adapta- viewed in Lightner, 2014). Thus, it is naive throughout the life of an organism. As in tion. Based on their worldview, it was to claim that the plasticity observed was other creatures, our bodies constantly mon- believed that genetic adaptation is a very non-adaptive, and it is at odds with what is itor conditions, both internal and external slow and gradual process. Natural selection generally seen in physiologic responses. (temperature, humidity, oxygen levels, etc.), is assumed to be the cause of an adaptive There are other conundrums that evo- and respond appropriately. One of the most allele’s becoming more common in a pop- extensively studied areas where this occurs lutionists face when considering phenotypic ulation. New adaptive alleles supposedly plasticity. If it is adaptive, it should slow is in the body’s response to physical exercise originate from random, chance mutation (USDHHS, 1996). This response not only down natural selection. This is because the (usually attributed to copying errors). How- organisms are adapting without any genetic includes immediate changes (increased ever, the evolutionary prediction that genet- heart and respiration rate to supply adequate changes, and natural selection should not ic adaptation must occur slowly, turned out be as effective. Yet, the ability to adapt oxygen), but also longer term changes to to be wrong (Akst, 2017). For decades now, help meet a similar challenge in the future. physiologically might be necessary for or- they have recognized that adaptation often ganisms to be able to survive in a new This awe-inspiring response, of which we occurs very rapidly, which gives us good still only have partial knowledge, effects habitat, and have time for genetic changes reason to suspect the naturalistic mecha- to show up (Ghalambor et al., 2015). While physiologic changes throughout multiple nisms of change which they propose. body systems, including the endocrine and there is exciting research being done to immune systems. It clearly testifies to the Examples of rapid adaptation in fish, better understand genetic adaptation, the wisdom of the magnificent Creator (Isaiah for example, include changes in life-cycle underlying mechanisms are still generally 45:18; Romans 1:20). traits (growth, onset of maturity, level of assumed to be random mutation and natural reproduction) in response to predators selection. Next generation changes and/or reduced oxygen levels (Diaz Pauli Creation and adaptation Genetic adaptation is more difficult to study et al., 2017), and adapting to high levels of because it involves DNA differences which pollution (Reid et al., 2016). One challenge A biblical worldview provides a different can be passed on to offspring. Rather than is distinguishing between physiologic and perspective. The Bible mentions that life looking at the individual, it is more com- genetic adaptation. Biologists use the term was created “according to their kinds,” and monly viewed in terms of a whole popula- “phenotypic plasticity” to refer to physio- it was intended that they reproduce and fill tion. For example, there are specific alleles logic changes in response to the environ- the earth (Genesis 1:21–22, 24–25, 8:15– (versions of a gene) that enable certain ment. In so doing, they insulate themselves 17). Thus, it makes sense that both physio- populations to thrive at high altitudes (re- from the obvious, astounding, multi-faceted logic and genetic adaptation take place in viewed in Lightner, 2014). It was challeng- design that is involved in well-studied ex- a timely fashion to allow creatures the ing to design studies to identify putatively amples of physiologic adaptation. ability to do so. It makes no sense for God adaptive alleles, and it took more study to While phenotypic plasticity was tradi- to use “random mutation from copying confirm them. Further, since no one ob- tionally ignored by evolutionists because it errors” as the source for genetic adaptation, served the adaptive alleles’ coming into is not heritable, newer evolutionary models since they would not show up at an appro- existence, their origin must be inferred. recognize that it is an important concept to priate time. This is why creationists propose Unsurprisingly, a person’s worldview can consider. Evolutionists label phenotypic that there are designed mechanisms that heavily influence his or her conclusions. plasticity as either adaptive or non-adaptive. induce appropriate heritable genetic chang- es, and finding these mechanisms is an Evolutionists believe that all alleles A recent paper on rapid adaptation in gup- pies made the astounding claim that non- important area of creation research (Light- originated from mutation, tracing back to a ner, 2014; Lightner, 2016b). single common ancestor. Creationists rec- adaptive plasticity potentiates adaptive (ge- ognize two possible origins for adaptive netic) evolution in gene expression (Gha- The Bible also provides a reason why alleles: either they were created, or they lambor et al., 2015). A closer look reveals these systems sometimes fail. The original arose as a result of genetic change (muta- some problems with this conclusion. creation was marred by mankind’s sin, tion). Many appear to have been derived In the Ghalambor et al. (2015) paper, which caused disease, suffering, and death

6 | Creation Research Society to enter the world (Genesis 3). So, some- Ghalambor, C.K., K.L. Hoke, E.W. Ruell, E.K. Fis- and long-term adaptation to exercise. In Physi- times physiologic responses are not ade- cher, D.N. Reznick, and K.A. Hughes. 2015. cal activity and health: a report of the Sur- Non-adaptive plasticity potentiates rapid adap- geon General. US Department of Health and quate to prevent disease (e.g., altitude tive evolution of gene expression in nature. Human Services, Public Health Service, CDC, sickness), and some genetic changes have Nature 525:372–375. National Center for Chronic Disease Preven- tion and Health Promotion: Atlanta, Georgia. adverse effects on health. These cases are Lightner, J.K. 2014. Adaptation of endotherms to Retrieved May 9, 2017 from more noticeable because disease is involved. high altitudes. Creation Research Society https://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/sgr/chap3.htm Yet it is predicted that they are the exception Quarterly 50:132–140. rather than the rule, and continued scientific Lightner, J.K. 2016a. Matters of Fact: Created vs research is supporting this. mutated: how do we know? Creation Matters 21(3):7–8. References Lightner, J.K. 2016b. Adaptive genetic changes by Akst, J. (2017, May 1) Evolution’s quick pace af- design: a look at the DNA editing by activa- fects ecosystem dynamics. The Scientist. Re- tion-induced cytidine deaminase (AID). Cre- trieved May 10, 2017 from ation Research Society 52:265–274. http://www.the- Reid, N.M., D.A. Proestou, B.W. Clark, W.C. War- scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/49258/tit ren, J.K. Colbourne, J.R. Shaw, S.I. Karchner, le/Evolution-s-Quick-Pace-Affects-Ecosystem- M.E. Hahn, D. Nacci, M.F. Oleksiak, D.L. Dynamics/ Crawford, and A. Whitehead. 2016. The ge- Diaz Pauli, B., J. Kolding, G. Jeyakanth, and M. nomic landscape of rapid repeated evolution- Heino. 2017. Effects of ambient oxygen and ary adaptation to toxic pollution in wild fish. size-selective mortality on growth and matura- Science 354:13051308. tion in guppies. Conservation Physiology doi:10.1126/science.aah4993 5(1):cox010. doi:10.1093/conphys/cox010 USDHHS. 1996. Chapter 3: Physiologic responses

they appear as if hard-wired into the brain, which suggests they might display it even before a given Speaking of Science stimuli had been encountered. They readily acknowledge that no such mechanism has been found for converting epigenetic changes into DNA changes, but note that epige- netics is still a young science and that such a by David F. Coppedge mechanism could yet be found. Editor’s note: These S.O.S. (Speaking of Science) items have been selected from “Creation- Evolution Headlines” by David F. Coppedge at http://crev.info and are used by permission. Does the statement in Science improve on this vacuous episode Unless otherwise noted, emphasis is added in all quotes. Content may be edited for style and length. of imaginary hand-waving? It’s only one paragraph long. An animal mind is not born as an empty canvas: Bottlenose Instinct: ‘Somehow’ Is Not an Evolutionary dolphins know how to swim and honey bees know how to Explanation dance without ever having learned these skills. Little is known about how animals acquire the instincts hy does America’s most prestigious scientific journal put that enable such innate behavior. Instincts are widely held W up with a story like, ‘somehow it evolved in an ancestor’? to be ancestral to learned behavior. Some have been ele- gantly analyzed at the cellular and molecular levels, The word ‘somehow’ appears twice in this summary but general principles do not exist. Based on recent on Phys.org1 of a Perspective piece in Science2 about the evolution research, we argue instead that instincts evolve from of instincts: learning and are therefore served by the same general prin- A pair of biology professors, one with the University of ciples that explain learning. Illinois, the other with Macquarie University in Australia From this kind of explanation, we learn several things: has proposed in a Perspective piece in the journal Science that the traits we see as instinctual in animals ● We know what we can observe. were likely learned by ancestors. In their paper, Gene Rob- ● Evolutionists ‘know little’ about how animals ‘acquired’ inson and Andrew Barron suggest that those behaviors instincts. learned by ancestors wound up in their DNA somehow, making them instinctual behaviors in later generations…. ● Evolutionists ‘hold’ that instincts are ancestral. But where did these innate abilities come from? That is the ● There are no general principles for the evolution of question posed by Robinson and Barron—they suggest many, instincts. if not all innate abilities arise due to an ancestor learning ● Explanations for learning and instincts evolve by con- how to do something and then somehow passing that infor- vergent evolution. mation along in their DNA. ● You can get away with empty speculation To fill in the details of the ‘somehow,’ the evolutionists wave in Science Magazine, as long as you are an evolutionist. the word ‘epigenetics’ around. Their use of the word, however, is devoid of empirical evidence, rendering it equivalent to the ‘some- Their explanation suggests a conundrum: did the ancestor learn how’ hypothesis. by instinct? That conundrum has a corollary: do evolutionists learn by instinct to devise evolutionary explanations? The pair suggest such a form of natural selection could lead 1. Yirka, B. (2017 April 7). Biology professors suggest instincts evolved from to behaviors being adopted at increasingly early stages, until Creation Matters Vol. 22 No. 3 May / June | | 7 learning. PhysOrg. Retrieved May 3, 2017 from Mass spectrometry, central to her team’s current methods, https://phys.org/news/2017-04-biology-professors-instincts-evolved.html is time-intensive and necessarily destroys the sample, so 2. Robinson, G.E. and A.B. Barron. 2017. Epigenetics and the evolution of in- Schweitzer’s team is working to build a database of methods stincts. Science 356(6333):26–27. doi:10.1126/science.aam6142 and criteria that other researchers might employ to get as much information as they can from other fossils and optimize the use of mass spectrometry when it is truly Saving Evolution with a New Narrative about worthwhile. She also is working on ways to broaden the Dinosaur Soft Tissue search for proteins to different dinosaur tissues, speci- he ability of evolutionary ‘scientists’ to distract attention mens and environments. T from big questions and avoid the obvious has never been Everyone can benefit from more data. Creationists might use more evident. the information to make inferences about antediluvian environ- The evolutionist’s response to their most radical challenge in ments. Evolutionists who believe in millions of years, however, the last two decades seems to be, “When fossils give you blood, need to remember that nobody in secular science expected proteins make lemonade.” Look how a site called ‘Experimental Biology to last for a few hundred thousand years, let alone tens of millions. 2017’ is responding to the challenge of dinosaur soft tissue, 1. Experimental Biology. (2017, April 24). What can we learn from dinosaur according to Science Daily1: proteins? The ability to extract proteins from ancient bones raises striking new questions. ScienceDaily. Retrieved May 3, 2017 from Researchers recently confirmed it is possible to extract https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/04/170424141356.htm proteins from 80-million-year-old dinosaur bones. The dis- covery sparks hopes for new insights about evolution and environmental change and could even offer useful clues Dinosaur Evolutionary Tree Is All Wrong for drug discovery or the search for extraterrestrial life. (provided by Jerry Bergman) Let’s be clear. Dinosaur soft tissue is a challenge to millions ops… The dinosaur evolutionary of years. It has nothing to do with: O tree is all wrong! A new study has revolutionized the dinosaur evolutionary ● Insights about evolution (other tree, producing “the biggest change to than falsification) dinosaur tree in 130 years” (New ● Environmental change (other Scientist).1 The old theory classified di- than a worldwide Flood, possi- nosaurs into two significantly distinct bly) dinosaur families, those with bird-like ● Drug discovery (scientists can hips that point downwards and towards use ostriches for that) the tail, called the ornithischians, and those with lizard-like hips that point ● SETI (no dinosaurs have been found in space) downwards and to the front, called the saurischians. The new theory was According to the article, Mary Sch- based both on newer dinosaur findings weitzer, the discoverer of numerous that were not available earlier and a cases of dinosaur soft tissue including newer analysis of dinosaur traits by Bar- stretchy blood vessels, is in on the on and associates.2 Instead of focusing revised narrative. She was to be present- on the pelvic bone, as in the old system, ing her findings on dinosaur soft tissue they analyzed 457 characteristics in 74 to the annual meeting of the American species.3 Association of Anatomists at an event for the Experimental Biology 2017 in Chicago this week. But The researchers found that the 21 anatomical features they instead of the society’s expressing shame and dismay at an on- selected can be used to divide the dinosaurs very differently than slaught of falsification charges coming from creationists about the older system. As there is no correct way of selecting traits long-age beliefs, they are passing out rotten blood lemonade: used to classify, selection of other traits could be used to divide dinosaurs into an even different evolutionary tree. Based on these “We have transparent, flexible, hollow polymers that have features, the new tree puts T. rex and other theropods on the side lasted for 80 million years,” Schweitzer pointed out. of the “bird-hipped” creatures, and the sauropods with those “Someone surely can find a use for that!“ related to Herrerasaurus, a South American bipedal carnivore. One good use would be to ditch millions of years, and admit These findings forced development of a new dinosaur family tree. these specimens are not as old as claimed. This revolution is not unusual in evolutionary biology, and illus- trates the tenuousness of classifying life, a field termed . On the positive side, Schweitzer is working on better methods Using one set of traits one can produce one taxonomy, and using to discover soft tissue in the fossils: another different set can produce a very different taxonomy. Thus, Now that she and her colleagues have demonstrated re- taxonomy classifications are somewhat tenuous. peatedly that proteins can be extracted from dino bones, Schweitzer is focusing on new research directions. First, The taxon Dinosauria was named in 1842 by paleontologist she is turning her attention toward refining methods for Sir Richard Owen (1804 -1892), a creationist. Richard Owen was studying these ancient proteins so that paleontologists one of the strongest scientific opponents of Darwinism during the can get more information with less damage to specimens. age of Darwin. The term dinosaur means terrible lizard, due to

8 | Creation Research Society their size and assumed ferociousness. Paleontologists admit they https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg23331184-400-first-dinosaurs- know almost nothing “about the early evolution of these creatures, may-have-been-omnivores-in-the-north-hemisphere/ and in particular, the evolution of the dinosaurs before the [puta- 2. Baron, M.G., D.B. Norman, and P.M. Barrett. 2017. A new hypothesis of 4 dinosaur relationships and early dinosaur tive] saurishian-ornithischian split (Forster, 2000). Thus, new evolution. Nature 453(7646):501–506. doi:10.1038/nature21700 discoveries can revolutionize their conclusions, as occurred in this 3. Padian, K. 2017. Dividing the dinosaurs. Nature 543(7646):494–495. doi: case. Taxonomy is not only used to determine evolutionary trees, 10.1038/543494a but also to differentiate one species from another. The problem 4. Forster, C. 2000. “The First Dinosaurs,” chapter 2, pp. 41–52 in R. Silver- is that the species concept is an imperfect and problematic method berg, editor, The Ultimate Dinosaur, New York, Simon and Schuster 5 to classify life. As Cornell trained taxonomist Carol Yoon wrote, 5. Yoon, C. 2009. Naming Nature: The Clash Between Instinct and Science. species classification was the “gray area of the field” and, more New York: Norton. pp. 104–105) problematically “it was a moving target,” as this new dinosaur Image of various kinds of dinosaur skeletons, courtesy Wikimedia Commons study shows. and used under CCA license 2.5. 1. Whyte, C. (2017, March 22). First dinosaurs may have been omnivores in https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Various_dinosaurs.png#/media/Fi the north hemisphere. New Scientist. Retrieved May 3, 2017 from le:Various_dinosaurs-2.png Letters

CRS: More than Just ist camp. of the CRS in The Journal of Christian Model Building At that time, in the 1960s and 1970s, Reconstruction in 1974. In his effort to lay we had the Genesis Flood book by Whit- a firm foundation for the Society, he wrote n a recent Creation Matters article, Dr. comb and Morris (1961) and very little else “Our aim is an audacious one, namely the Robert Hill (2017) expressed the opinion I to defend a biblical model. The fact that complete re-evaluation of science from the that the original mission of the Creation model-building was in its infancy did not theistic viewpoint.” (Lammerts, 1974) That Research Society (CRS), as defined by Dr. deter me in my search because at last I could process is two phased: first the deconstruc- Walter Lammerts, was to re-evaluate sci- see that a biblical model was possible, far tion of the old model must take place, and ence from a biblical worldview. Indeed, that more possible than what I learned about only then is it possible to construct a new is an important goal, but from the very evolution. Robert Hill stated that “It will model based on a new foundation. The beginning of the Society, as determined not be possible to displace evolution in the model based upon evolution is like a 150- from an examination of early Creation Re- minds of people unless we have a viable year-old building. It is a crumbling, rat- search Society Quarterly (CRSQ) publica- model to replace it.” I disagree. I believe it infested fire trap full of garbage, with no tions, that was not by any means the only is much more important to expose the illog- historical value. It deserves to be bulldozed. focus. ical arguments of evolution to the point If left standing alongside the creation model, I would have never considered investi- where people have no choice but to search it remains a threat because it is dangerous gating a creationist worldview if it had not for an alternative as I did. In addition, we to all who enter therein. been for articles that exposed the fallacies must not leave evolutionary misinformation Creation models are vulnerable. We of evolution. In particular, I remember a and the evil it causes unnoticed and unchal- cannot go back in time and experimentally 1973 CRSQ article and subsequent book by lenged. To be most effective, let us use all verify our models, and in that way, we suffer James F. Coppedge, Evolution: Possible or of the weapons of warfare that we have in from the same limitations that the evolution Impossible, which shows the impossibility this battle, and not fight with our right hand model has. We have at least five or six flood of evolution using the problem of left-hand- tied behind our back. models, as well as that many cosmology ed amino acids. (Coppedge, 1973) Since I Dr. Lammerts himself published a se- models. We still cannot all agree even on had attempted to assemble proteins in the ries of eight well-documented CRSQ articles what a biblical “kind” is. But the power we laboratory, I was very familiar with the listing places in the world where strata were have lies in the indirect proof. We take the problem. I was able to quantify it to the in the wrong order according to the evolu- assumptions of the evolution model to a extent to show that chance, mutations, and tionary sequence (e.g., Lammerts, 1987). logical impasse and eliminate it as a possi- natural selection cannot explain the complex These articles did not support a particular bility. Many such examples have been pub- design of proteins. creation model. We still debate how strata lished in the CRSQ in years past, and it was This was enough for me to begin are formed and how the order is laid down. these articles which I thought to be the most searching for new answers. I had been taught The evidence that Dr. Lammerts presented powerful and useful to encourage my faith. in college that the only reasonable explana- was very effective against the geologic col- tion for the origin of life is evolution. When umn espoused by evolutionists. This is only — D. Sharp I discovered that the logical foundation for one example of many where it demonstrates evolution had very little basis in fact, it was that his intention for the Society was not References enough for me to consider pursuing a bib- just for model building. He used the princi- Coppedge, J.F. 1973. Evolution: Possible or Impossi- lical worldview. That article was one of ples of indirect proof by exposing the falla- ble. Zondervan: Grand Rapids, Michigan. several that made a tremendous impact on cious nature of the geologic column. Hill, R. 2017. The CRS mission is model building. me, and put me in the young-earth creation- Creation Matters 22(1):5. Dr. Lammerts wrote about the origin Creation Matters Vol. 22 No. 3 May / June | | 9 Lammerts, W.E. 1974. The creationist movement in plate tectonics model, the Vardiman They also disparage some of the creation the United States: A personal account. The Journal of Christian Reconstruction 1:1. hypercane model, the biogeographic models developed so far. Lammerts, W.E. 1987. Recorded instances of wrong- rafting model, plus the canopy model, The two letters indicate that the authors order formations or presumed overthrusts in the the neo-canopy model, and the Smith do not understand model building. Model United States: A bibliography – Part VIII. Cre- Upheaval flood theory. The Trollingers building will naturally have negative and ation Research Society Quarterly, 24:1. (2016, p. 81) effectively show none of positive aspects. The negative aspect in- Whitcomb, J.C. and H.M. Morris. 1961. The Genesis volves tearing down other models. The pos- Flood. Baker: Grand Rapids, Michigan. these models are empirical science, but are historical science, which Ken Ham itive aspect involves building new models. The negative aspect is much easier to do and others document is problematic. In than the positive aspect. Tearing down other Discrediting Evolution Is my half-century in the creation movement, models means the CRSQ will publish anti- Necessary I have seen creation models come and go, evolution articles. Publishing anti-evolution and must conclude that I doubt if any cre- would like to respond to Dr. Robert articles is part of model building and is ation model would have convinced me to Hill’s recent article (2017) in Creation consistent with the mission of the CRS. I abandon Darwinism. Only clear evidence Matters. As is well documented, coming out against evolution could do that. The CRS is a scientific society. Science of atheism was difficult for me. The first proceeds by model building. Therefore, the step was to evaluate evolution by research- I know many creationists who went stated mission of the CRS is model building. ing the evidence that was covered in the down the same path that I did. Consequent- The CRS website makes this clear when it evolution chapters of standard college biol- ly, I edited two books, and two others are lists the primary functions of the Society ogy textbooks, starting with the biology in preparation, that compiled scores of cases (Creation Research Society, n.d.): textbook I used in college. I assumed the like my own. I also have worked with others author had included the most well-supported to publish two empirical studies that found · Publication of a quarterly peer-re- evidence for evolution. I checked other that the major evidence that would cause viewed journal. books and found that most of the same respondents to abandon Darwinism and ac- · Conducting research to develop arguments were used. cept creation is the case against human and test creation models. evolution. The so-called creation models · The provision of research grants This evidence included vestigial or- ended up close to the bottom of the list of and facilities to creation scientists gans, homology, beneficial mutations, evi- topics which respondents were asked to rank for approved research projects. dence of poor design, the argument from (Biddle and Bergman, 2017; Biddle, 2017). imperfection, natural selection, and abio- · Providing qualified scientists to genesis, among other topics. I also looked speak to groups or churches. at the fossil record of plants, insects, am- — J. Bergman phibians, snakes, turtles, marsupials, — R. Hill whales, and humans, among others. I even- References References tually concluded that no valid fossil evi- Biddle, D. and J. Bergman. 2017. Strategically dis- dence exists for macroevolution. mantling the evolutionary idea strongholds. Hill, R. 2017. The CRS mission is model building. Journal of Creation 31(1):116–119. Creation Matters 22(1):5. In my search, it soon became apparent Biddle, D. 2017. Bible and culture: Targeted apolo- Creation Research Society. n.d. About CRS. Re- that some questions were more difficult to getics. Answers Magazine. 12(1):48–51. trieved May 11, 2017 from answer than others. Of the sets of proofs Hill, R. 2017. The CRS mission is model building. https://www.creationresearch.org/index.php/abo that I encountered, I concluded that the Creation Matters 22(1):5. ut-crs/general-information easiest one to answer was “do vestigial Trollinger, S.L. and W.V. Trollinger. 2016. Righting (meaning once useful in our evolutionary America at the Creation Museum. Johns Hop- past but now useless or degenerative) organs kins University Press. exist?” Many organs in the human body were touted by evolutionists as useless, and these were used as a major proof of Darwin- Response: The Mission of the ism in most of the texts. They reasoned that CRS Is Still Model Building God would not create functionless or infe- appreciate the chance to respond to the rior organs which often became diseased, I letters by Doug Sharp and Jerry Bergman such as the human appendix. regarding my article “The CRS Mission Is Only when I was convinced that evolu- Model Building” (Hill, 2017). Both letters tion is false did I have any interest in cre- are similar in their line of reasoning. They ation models, most of which focus on the essentially claim that model building is not age of the earth/universe and flood prob- the only objective of the Creation Research lems. While much insight has resulted from Society (CRS). creation model research, it soon became Both Sharp and Bergman place great clear that they tend to be dominated by much emphasis on the anti-evolution articles pub- speculation. Some common competing lished in the Creation Research Society creation models include the residual Quarterly (CRSQ) and other creationist catastrophism model, the Bretz Colum- journals. They imply that the primary focus bia River flood model, the catastrophic of the Society should be anti-evolution.

10 | Creation Research Society Quarterly Summaries of Cutting-edge Research Research from the Creation Research Society Quarterly Matters *Summaries compiled by J. Lightner.

Creation research that engages the current scientific literature and tive. Journal of Creation 29(3):50–55. builds the creation model is crucial; CRS exists to support and Clarey, T.L. and J.P. Tomkins. 2016. An investigation into an in situ lycopod publish such research. Only through high quality research can forest site and structural anatomy invalidates the floating-forest hypothesis. CRSQ 53:110–122. we equip others with strong, sound apologetics arguments that show the robustness of the creation model over that of evolution. Morris, J. and S.A. Austin. 2003. Footprints in the Ash, The explosive Story of Mount St. Helen’s. Master Books, Green Forest, Arkansas. Available CRSQ = Creation Research Society Quarterly through the CRS Bookstore. Lycopods and floating forests: ow did the massive coal beds form? Creationists Immunity or Interface H and evolutionists have differing answers. Evolutionists, based he study of the human body is often divided into systems, such on uniformitarian assumptions, propose that they were manufactured T as the cardiovascular system, the respiratory system, etc. One of through a soil-forming environment (anthigenic) from plants growing these, the immune system, is commonly portrayed as being primarily in place (autochthonous) and deposited within coastal swamps and involved in defending our bodies against many harmful pathogens. similar environments. Creationists prefer the catastrophic explanation, This view was shaped by the fact that pathogens, such as certain actually suggested hundreds of years ago, which proposes that these bacteria, have dramatic adverse effects on the body. Therefore, they coal beds were formed from plant debris (detrital) transported and were the microbes that gained attention and were studied in-depth deposited to a different place than where they grew (allochthonous) early-on, as our knowledge of the microbial world began to develop. (reviewed in Austin and Sanders, 2017). Yet, for decades now, it has been known that most microbes are not One of the objections to the catastrophic model was that certain pathogens. Indeed, a wide variety of bacteria and other microbes are plants, including tree lycopods, were found in an upright (growth) essential for proper development of the digestive tract and other body position. Yet when Mount St. Helens erupted in 1980, it allowed for systems, as has been reported on previously in this publication (Light- first hand observations of what a catastrophe could do. Observations ner, 2010). of trees being ripped out of the soil and eventually deposited elsewhere, In the Fall 2016 issue of the CRSQ, Guliuzza and Sherwin argue in an upright position, are illustrated and discussed in the popular, that it is time that this body system is described in a way that more lay-level book “Footprints in the Ash” (Morris and Austin, 2003). accurately reflects its function—viz., as a microbial interface (MI) Another uniformitarian objection is that tree lycopods, which are now system. Not only does this provide a more accurate understanding of extinct, were supposedly adapted to a terrestrial swamp environment. the role it plays in the human body, but it has clear implications about For a number of years creationists have promoted a floating-forest its origin as a remarkable system, created by our omniscient Creator, model which helps to counter this objection (Austin and Sanders, that provides for harmonious symbiotic relationships, thus, enabling 2017). us to live healthy, productive lives to the glory of God. However, other creationists have argued that details of the float- Guliuzza and Sherwin look at the MI system from a design ing-forest hypothesis are inconsistent with geologic data (Clarey, analysis perspective. Human-designed interface systems have three 2015). In the Fall 2016 issue of the CRSQ, Clarey and Tomkins essential elements: authentication, protocols, and medium. The authors present further evidence suggesting that the floating forest hypothesis flesh out the details of how these elements function within our MI should be discarded. First, they discuss a well-preserved lycopod system. They also demonstrate how design analysis, in general, pro- biome, which is the first identified location that provides strong vides a more robust framework for scientific study, removing many evidence of tree lycopods in their true growing environment. Second, of the non-explanations that are commonly proffered by evolutionists they discuss evidence that contradicts the proposal that major portions (e.g., co-evolution). of the trees were naturally hollow. Instead, it appears there was rapid decay of softer tissue layers prior to deposition during the Flood. This article makes an important contribution to the creation literature by illustrating how starting from a biblical worldview, and Despite the disagreement on the original biome to which lycopods using what has been learned from human experience as designers, we belonged, both creation views agree that the lycopods in coal deposits can better understand the works of the Master Designer and avoid the were from plant remains carried by waters of the Flood to where they common evolutionary misunderstandings of the world around us. were deposited (detrital and allochthonous). This type of disagreement Guliuzza, R.J. and F. Sherwin. 2016. Design analysis suggests that our “im- in the creation community is important when it spurs on research to mune” system is better understood as a microbe interface system. CRSQ find more satisfying answers. Just as “iron sharpens iron” (Proverbs 53:123–139. 27:17), being able to critically evaluate our ideas helps us hone our Lightner, J.K. 2010. Matters of Fact … Immune system. Creation Matters understanding and apologetic arguments in support of the creation 15(6):11. model. Austin, S.A. and R.W. Sanders. 2016. Floating mat model for the origin of coal is supported by new evidence from plant paleoecology. Journal of Creation Continued creation research is made possible by the gener- Theology and Science Series C: Earth Sciences 6:1. Retrieved May 6, 2017 ous gifts (time, money, and prayers) of our many supporters. from http://www.coresci.org/jcts/index.php/jctsc/article/view/54/74 Thanks to all who have contributed! Clarey, T.L. 2015. Examining the floating forest hypothesis: a geologic perspec- Creation Matters Vol. 22 No. 3 May / June | | 11 Creation Research Society Nonprofit Org. 6801 N. Highway 89 US Postage Chino Valley, AZ 86323-9186 PAID USA St. Joseph, MO Address Service Requested Permit #85

May / June 2017 Vol. 22 No. 3

by Jonathan C. O’Quinn, D.P.M., M.S.

ooking like silver drops of mer- DURING heat exposure. SSAs produce L cury on the sand, Saharan silver them BEFORE going out into the heat. ants (SSAs) thrive in deserts These supposedly “simple” creatures where daytime temperatures can hit testify loudly to a planned and highly up to 158°F. Their dorsal surfaces are ordered creation. covered with thick, parallel hairs, tri- angular in cross section, each with one References: flat surface facing the body and with Dvorsky, G. 2016. Saharan silver ants have evolved the other two corrugated, grooved an awesome way of fighting extreme desert surfaces angled up at about 40 degrees. heat. Gizmodo. Retrieved April 20, 2017 from http://gizmodo.com/saharan-silver-ants-have- The angle and the pattern of the evolved-an-awesome-way-of-figh-1770989668 grooves on each hair create something Langston, J. 2015. Saharan silver ants use hair to called total internal reflection. Sun- survive Earth’s hottest temperatures. UWToday. light passes into one grooved side of http://www.washington.edu/news/2015/06/18/sa each hair, is internally reflected off the flat haran-silver-ants-use-hair-to-survive-earths- bottom surface, and exits the other grooved nest for a few minutes each day to forage hottest-temperatures/ side of the hair, reducing heat absorption for food, choosing the hottest time of day, Redmond, K. 2017. The hairy optics of Saharan sil- ver ants. Physics Central. Retrieved April 20, from the sunlight. The grooves allow more when predators such as lizards are taking refuge from the sun’s rays. 2017 from light to enter the hair, thus reflecting more http://www.physicscentral.com/explore/plus/sah light away from the ant’s body. As if this wasn’t amazing enough, SSAs aran-silver-ants.cfm These hairs reflect light in the visible have extra-long legs to further elevate their Image credit: A group of Saharan silver ants de- bodies from the sand. SSAs also produce vouring a camel tick. © 2011 by Bjørn Chris- and near-infrared range and also emit light tian Tørrissen. Wikimedia Commons. SA 3.0. in the mid-infrared range to further offload what are called heat shock proteins, which help their bodies function in high heat. Most https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sahar excess accumulation of heat. SSAs exit their an_Silver_Ants_Erg_Chebbi_2011.jpg animals that produce these proteins do so

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