Difference between revisions of "Vestigial structures"

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In the view of secular evolutionists, vestigial structures are some of the best evidence in favor of [[evolution]] and against [[Intelligent Design]] because the most parsimonious explanation for these structures' existence is that they were once functional in progenitor species, but were rendered useless by evolution. According to [[Occam's Razor]], all other things being equal, the solution that makes the fewest assumptions is the best.
 
In the view of secular evolutionists, vestigial structures are some of the best evidence in favor of [[evolution]] and against [[Intelligent Design]] because the most parsimonious explanation for these structures' existence is that they were once functional in progenitor species, but were rendered useless by evolution. According to [[Occam's Razor]], all other things being equal, the solution that makes the fewest assumptions is the best.
  
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This argument ignores the counter argument of [[the fall]], where it is understood that current conditions are not the way God originally designed, and that vestigial structures are, if anything, evidence for ''devolution'', not evolution.<ref>Batten, Don, and Sarfati, John, [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/3863/ ‘Vestigial’ Organs: What do they prove?] (Creation Ministries International).</ref>
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However, this argument ignores the counter argument of [[the fall]], where it is understood that current conditions are not the way God originally designed, and that vestigial structures are, if anything, evidence for ''devolution'', not evolution.<ref>Batten, Don, and Sarfati, John, [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/3863/ ‘Vestigial’ Organs: What do they prove?] (Creation Ministries International).</ref>
  
 
Furthermore, the fact that science has not determined the function of a particular structure does not mean that the structure has no function.  Indeed, as stated earlier evolutionists have in the past proposed 180 human organs as being vestigial, but we now know that the vast majority of those organs have since been found to have definite functions,<ref>Bergman, Jerry, [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/1663/ Do any vestigial organs exist in humans?] ''Journal of Creation'', 14(2):95–98, August 2000</ref> including the [[tonsils]], [[thymus]], and the [[pineal gland]]. The tonsils were found to help fight infection, and the thymus and pineal gland were both found to secrete important hormones.<ref>http://www.darwinismrefuted.com/embryology_02.html#313</ref>. In addition, a number of suggestions have been made about the role of the human appendix.<ref>Glover, Warwick, [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/1759 The human vermiform appendix] ''Journal of Creation'' 3(1):31–38,
 
Furthermore, the fact that science has not determined the function of a particular structure does not mean that the structure has no function.  Indeed, as stated earlier evolutionists have in the past proposed 180 human organs as being vestigial, but we now know that the vast majority of those organs have since been found to have definite functions,<ref>Bergman, Jerry, [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/1663/ Do any vestigial organs exist in humans?] ''Journal of Creation'', 14(2):95–98, August 2000</ref> including the [[tonsils]], [[thymus]], and the [[pineal gland]]. The tonsils were found to help fight infection, and the thymus and pineal gland were both found to secrete important hormones.<ref>http://www.darwinismrefuted.com/embryology_02.html#313</ref>. In addition, a number of suggestions have been made about the role of the human appendix.<ref>Glover, Warwick, [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/1759 The human vermiform appendix] ''Journal of Creation'' 3(1):31–38,

Revision as of 01:07, December 22, 2007

Vestigial structures are structures/organs that are said to not have a function based on the theory of evolution.[1] According to Dr. Jerry Bergman the list of vestigial organs in humans has gone from 180 in 1890 to 0 in 1999.[2] Furthermore, Dr. Bergman states the following:

“ Few examples of vestigial organs in humans are now offered, and the ones that are have been shown by more recent research to be completely functional (and in many cases critically so, see Bergman and Howe)...

One popular book on the human body which discussed vestigial organs stated that next to circumcision

‘… tonsillectomy is the most frequently performed piece of surgery. Doctors once thought tonsils were simply useless evolutionary leftovers and took them out thinking that it could do no harm. Today there is considerable evidence that there are more troubles in the upper respiratory tract after tonsil removal than before, and doctors generally agree that simple enlargement of tonsils is hardly an indication for surgery...’[3]

”

Evolutionist claim that snakes have vestigial features.[4] According to the science magazine New Scientist:

“ Scientists have found fossils of a legged snake with “hips” – a specimen that could be the most primitive snake ever unearthed. The find suggests early snakes were not creatures of the sea and has reignited the debate over how snakes evolved.

Sebastián Apesteguía at the Argentine Museum of Natural History and his team found the snake fossil in a terrestrial deposit in the Río Negro province of north Patagonia, Argentina, in 2003. Unlike a handful of legged fossils found in marine deposits and identified as snakes over the past decade, the new fossil, named Najash rionegrina, has a well-defined sacrum supporting a pelvis and functional hind legs outside of its ribcage.[5]

”

Creation scientist disputed that the snakes with legs is evidence for the theory of evolution and the creation science organization Answers in Genesis states the following:

“ Even assuming it could be established that the ancestor of snakes today had legs, creationists have no problem in principle with loss of features through natural processes. Development of leglessness is not evidence for molecules-to-man evolution, which requires addition of new genetic information. Loss of legs could be achieved through degeneration of the DNA information sequences that specify leg development....

AiG is cautious about comparing this fossil snake to the serpent in Genesis 3:14. First, we really don’t know much about the serpent’s anatomy anyway. Yet we can offer a reasonable guess that it apparently was once able to crawl or walk; after the serpent was cursed, it was pronounced that “on thy belly shalt thou go,” suggesting that it previously moved using appendages.5 Also, this fossil probably resulted during Noah’s Flood, an event that took place about 1,500 years after the serpent was cursed to crawl on its belly.[6]

”

Bible commentator Keith Krell states regarding the serpent in Genesis chapter 3 the following: "The text says the snake had to move on its belly. Some commentators take this literally and conclude that the snake had legs before God cursed it. Others take it figuratively, as a reference to the resultant despised condition of the snake."[7]

Different views

In the view of secular evolutionists, vestigial structures are some of the best evidence in favor of evolution and against Intelligent Design because the most parsimonious explanation for these structures' existence is that they were once functional in progenitor species, but were rendered useless by evolution. According to Occam's Razor, all other things being equal, the solution that makes the fewest assumptions is the best.

However, this argument ignores the counter argument of the fall, where it is understood that current conditions are not the way God originally designed, and that vestigial structures are, if anything, evidence for devolution, not evolution.[8]

Furthermore, the fact that science has not determined the function of a particular structure does not mean that the structure has no function. Indeed, as stated earlier evolutionists have in the past proposed 180 human organs as being vestigial, but we now know that the vast majority of those organs have since been found to have definite functions,[9] including the tonsils, thymus, and the pineal gland. The tonsils were found to help fight infection, and the thymus and pineal gland were both found to secrete important hormones.[10]. In addition, a number of suggestions have been made about the role of the human appendix.[11]

External Links

References

  1. ↑ http://www.answersingenesis.org/tj/v14/i2/vestigial.asp
  2. ↑ http://www.answersingenesis.org/tj/v14/i2/vestigial.asp
  3. ↑ http://www.answersingenesis.org/tj/v14/i2/vestigial.asp
  4. ↑ http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1511/is_n7_v18/ai_19560108
  5. ↑ http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn9020.html
  6. ↑ http://www.answersingenesis.org/docs2/4250news3-20-2000.asp
  7. ↑ http://www.bible.org/page.php?page_id=4476#P30_15164
  8. ↑ Batten, Don, and Sarfati, John, ‘Vestigial’ Organs: What do they prove? (Creation Ministries International).
  9. ↑ Bergman, Jerry, Do any vestigial organs exist in humans? Journal of Creation, 14(2):95–98, August 2000
  10. ↑ http://www.darwinismrefuted.com/embryology_02.html#313
  11. ↑ Glover, Warwick, The human vermiform appendix Journal of Creation 3(1):31–38, April 1988
    Ham, Ken, and Wieland, Carl, Your appendix ... it’s there for a reason, Creation 20(1):41–42, December 1997.
    Wilkinson, Richard, Cutting out a useless vestigial argument, Creation 26(3):51, June 2004.
    Anon., Scientists may have found appendix’s purpose, MSNBC, 5th October, 2007.
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