Logo
Random Articles
Insight

"Is it logical or appropriate to assume all these 'chance' mutations took place without checking to see if they are even probable?"

Dr. Walter J. Veith

DidYouKnow

"Archaeologists said yesterday they have discovered the remains of a man-made structure more than 300 feet below the surface of the Black Sea, providing dramatic new evidence of an apocalyptic flood 7,500 years ago that may have inspired the Biblical story of Noah."

Evidence of the Flood
Washington Post, Sept. 13, 2000, pg. A01

Testimony
"I was raised as an Adventist,and my father Erwin, was chairman of the science dept. of a Seventh-day Adventist school. But being the rebel I was at the time, I had to venture out, and ended up in a public school, for a while. I will never forget the shock, and disapproval I received in biology class, when in front of a large class of students, I stood up to the teachers there and asked the question "If we came from monkeys, then why are there still monkeys" ? The entire class of students chimed in "good question" and I only remember the teachers, two of them, replying, you must be the new student from the academy, and had no explanation or reply to my question. I am confident that others in the class will never forget that moment. Thank-you Dr. Veith, for being there to explain things as well as God has gifted you !"

Douglas C.
(May 10, 2008)

Home » Articles » Beginnings » Creation Confronts Evolution » Natural Selection
Amazing Discoveries

Print
Natural Selection

 

Much of the evolutionary theory is based on the �survival of the fittest� perspective (a.k.a. �natural selection�).

How does this process really work? This and following articles will help clarify exactly what is wrong AND what is right about this popular foundational theory.

 
 


To begin with, we need to understand what natural selection IS and what it ISN�T. Natural selection only works if there is more than one thing to choose from. If there is only one kind of creature in existence, natural selection cannot work. This may seem like an overly simplified statement, but it actually strikes at the heart of a huge misconception on the part of many.

Natural selection is an ELIMINATOR. In other words, if there are two variations of a creature, the theory goes that natural selection chooses the �fittest� or �best�, and allows the �unfittest� or �weakest� to become extinct.

This goes against the evolutionary concept of more and more varied species evolving through natural selection, as natural selection creates less and less varied species. Without a pre-existing variation of species, evolution by natural selection would be impossible.So, natural selection CANNOT explain the abundance of species we currently see on our planet if it is seen as stemming from a single ancestral organism.

It is precisely the variation which Darwin observed in the finches and other organisms on his voyage with the Beagle, that led to the concept of evolution by natural selection. The significance of this begins with an understanding of the mindset during the time of Darwin.

At that time, the Christian European concept of creation was that God had created immutable unchangeable species. It was believed that each species was created individually by God exactly as it appears today, and could not change or develop variation. The way species were and still are classified utilizes this concept to a large extent.

Natural Selection - Part 2

  
     
 

Before we can even consider natural selection as an evolutionary force, we need to make several prior assumptions.

 

 
 

We must assume that millions of "chance" mutations took place in cells and genes making an organism from which to choose. By "chance", the genes for the varying cells in our bodies will need to have come about by chance - ie the genes that tell a cell what it is(ie. nerve cell, muscle cell, etc.).

But that's not enough. By "chance", these cells need to develop genes that permit the cells to communicate or work together, or else the organism will not even work. By "chance", genes that switch the cell's functions on or off also need appear. All these "chance" mutations need to occur, before an organism can be "selected for" by natural selection, because otherwise, there is no organism to choose from! But, a choice requires at least TWO to choose from. So, all those "chance" mutations need to occur a second time to create a second organism from which to then choose from.

So the question arises - is it logical or appropriate to assume all these "chance" mutations took place without checking to see if they are even probable?

And how can a process (natural selection) that is designed to make less and less, actually make more and more? TWO organisms - take away ONE organism that is not as "fit" as the other = ONE organism. It is NOT possible.

All this requires a large amount of faith in the god of "chance", and in an occurrence whose improbabiliy is enormous! Want to know how truly improbable this could be? What is the mathematical probability that even one fully functioning gene could come about by "chance"? See for yourself and decide for yourself!

by Professor Walter J. Veith Phd.
Print