The Dogma of Evolution | The Institute for Creation Research

 
The Dogma of Evolution

 

It has been almost one hundred fifty years since Darwin published his infamous On the Origin of Species in 1859. No species origin has ever been described, however, not even the ubiquitous and popular pup. Dog breeding has resulted in over 400 different varieties, from the Alsatian to the Great Dane, but each remains Canis familiaris — dog. Regardless, evolutionism demands a purely naturalistic explanation for canine origin. Such insistence has led wildlife ecologist I. L. Brisbin to state, "Everything that anyone publishes about the origin of the dog is controversial."1

Let's see why this is so. The first problem encountered — a major dilemma for Darwinists—is molecular data (DNA sequences) compared to fossils. An essential structure of the typical cell is the mitochondrion. Known as the cellular "powerhouse," critical chemical reactions occur there, producing the energy compound ATP. Researchers have found that mitochondria contain short segments of DNA, and that this mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is inherited solely from the mother. Secular scientists have since attempted to use mtDNA to trace cryptic evolutionary pathways. Evolutionist James Trefil states, "the amount of difference in [mitochondrial] DNA sequences between any two groups is taken to be a measure of the length of time since those groups shared a common ancestor."2 They shouldn't place too much stock in this technique, however, because "mitochondrial sequences have notoriously high and uneven rates of change."3

Despite using this questionable dating method, molecular biologists assert mitochondrial genomes show dogs arising some 135,000 years ago. This does not agree with the fossils found in sedimentary rock layers. "The earliest accepted dog fossils date from just 14,000 years ago" according to paleontology.4 Which is correct? Not only that, but "the date and place of domestication [of dogs] continues to be a mystery as well."5

Creationists maintain that dogs were created as dogs and will always be dogs including their dog varieties such as hyenas, wolves, foxes, and jackals. An interesting statement is made by evolutionist Peter Savolainen in the journal Science and sounds almost like he is referring to a pair of dogs trotting off the Ark, "we can say now there was probably one geographic origin [of dogs]."6 Evolutionist E. H. Colbert suggests this geographic area as eastern Turkey7 — the Mt. Ararat region! Dogs undoubtedly followed people during their post-Flood migration, which included crossing a possible land bridge between Asia and North America.8 Indeed, according to DNA taken from fossil canines, dogs of the Western Hemisphere have Asian ancestries.

_____________________________
1. Pennisi, E., "A Shaggy Dog History" Science, Nov. 22, 2002, v. 298, p. 1540.
2. Trefil, J., 101 Things You Don't Know about Science, Mariner Books, 1996, p. 289.
3. Morell, V., "The Origin of Dogs," Science, June 13, 1997, v. 276, p. 1647.
4. Pennisi, p. 1541 (see also T. Gura, Nature, v. 406, pp. 230-233).
5. Pennisi, p. 1540.
6. Morell, p. 1647.
7. Colbert, E., Evolution of the Vertebrates, 5th ed., Wiley-Liss, p. 381.
8. Pennisi, p. 1541.

Cite this article: Frank Sherwin, D.Sc. (Hon.). 2004. The Dogma of Evolution. Acts & Facts. 33 (2).

The Latest
CREATION PODCAST
Hot Springs & Badlands – Folded Rock, Fossil Graveyard, and...
America is home to stunning forests, mountains, monuments, and other wondrous features. The unique beauty of many of these locations has prompted...

NEWS
Mammals ''Shrank'' After Post-Flood Ice Age
By examining fossils from 19 archaeological sites in Jordan’s Azraq Basin, researchers have concluded that gazelles, hares, and foxes shrank in...

NEWS
Breaking News: Ancient Mollusks Were Complex
Mollusks consist of a wide range of invertebrates that include the intelligent octopus, pulmonated snails (gastropods), and bivalves (clams). They appear...

NEWS
Dino Trackway Leads Straight to a Young Earth
Uncovering animal tracks and trackways in sedimentary rocks is a testament to the Genesis Flood.1–4 Fascinating discoveries continue...

NEWS
February 2025 ICR Wallpaper
"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8 NKJV) ICR's...

CREATION.LIVE PODCAST
Fascinating Dino Fossil Finds! | Creation.Live Podcast: Episode...
Dinosaurs are fascinating creatures and the fossils they've left behind inspire awe and wonder. Many scientists claim that the existence of...

NEWS
New Antarctic Ice Core: Good News for Creationists
Scientists have successfully drilled a fourth long ice core in East Antarctica.1 This new core, which reached to bedrock, has bottom ice...

CREATION PODCAST
Towers, Buttes, and Gardens of Stone - Exploring America's National...
America is home to stunning forests, mountains, monuments, and other wondrous features. The unique beauty of many of these locations has prompted...

NEWS
Oldest Dinosaurs in North America Explained by the Flood
A team of conventional paleontologists claims to have found the oldest dinosaur in North America, rivaling the oldest dinosaur remains found anywhere.1...

NEWS
Leaf and Stick Insect Variation
The phylum Arthropoda suddenly appears in the fossil record in a most un-Darwinian way.1 The largest group within the arthropods is the class...