Difference between revisions of "Fossils"
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| − | '''Fossils''' are preserved remains of once-living organisms.<ref>Wile, | + | '''Fossils''' are preserved remains of once-living organisms.<ref>Wile, 1998</ref> They are usually formed when mineral-rich water makes its way into the organism's body. The minerals within the water aggregate within the spaces within the body and solidify. Once the organism's tissues have dissolved away, all that is left behind is a rock mold of the creature's shape. |
== Fossil record == | == Fossil record == | ||
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Organic matter has been found in some fossils. | Organic matter has been found in some fossils. | ||
| − | In 1997 Dr. [[Mary Schweitzer]] of [[Montana State University]] reported finding red [[blood]] cells inside a ''[[Tyrannosaurus rex]]'' bone.<ref name="blood">Wieland, | + | In 1997 Dr. [[Mary Schweitzer]] of [[Montana State University]] reported finding red [[blood]] cells inside a ''[[Tyrannosaurus rex]]'' bone.<ref name="blood">Wieland, 1997.</ref> |
| − | And in 2005 the same scientist reported finding blood vessels that were still "soft and stretchy" in another ''Tyrannosaurus rex'' bone claimed to be 65 million years old.<ref name="soft">Wieland, | + | And in 2005 the same scientist reported finding blood vessels that were still "soft and stretchy" in another ''Tyrannosaurus rex'' bone claimed to be 65 million years old.<ref name="soft">Wieland, 2005.</ref> |
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| + | It is well-accepted that biological matter cannot last anything like 65 million years. | ||
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Creationists argue that this constitutes evidence that the fossils are not that old.<ref name="blood" /><ref name="soft" />, whilst evolutionists argue either that this constitutes evidence that it can last that long, or that the apparent blood cells (which passed several tests for blood) were not really blood cells. | Creationists argue that this constitutes evidence that the fossils are not that old.<ref name="blood" /><ref name="soft" />, whilst evolutionists argue either that this constitutes evidence that it can last that long, or that the apparent blood cells (which passed several tests for blood) were not really blood cells. | ||
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== See also == | == See also == | ||
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*[[Fossil fuels]] | *[[Fossil fuels]] | ||
| − | == | + | == Bibliography == |
| − | + | * Wieland, Carl, [http://creationontheweb.com/content/view/606 Sensational dinosaur blood report!], ''Creation'' 19(4):42–43, September 1997. | |
| + | * Wieland, Carl, [http://creationontheweb.com/content/view/3042 Still soft and stretchy] 25th March 2005 (Creation Ministries International). | ||
| + | * Wile, Jay L. ''Exploring Creation With Biology''. Apologia Educational Ministries, Inc. 1998 | ||
| + | == Notes == | ||
| + | {{reflist|2}} | ||
[[Category:Fossils]] | [[Category:Fossils]] | ||
Revision as of 03:04, September 23, 2008
Fossils are preserved remains of once-living organisms.[1] They are usually formed when mineral-rich water makes its way into the organism's body. The minerals within the water aggregate within the spaces within the body and solidify. Once the organism's tissues have dissolved away, all that is left behind is a rock mold of the creature's shape.
Contents
Fossil record
Biblical creationists see most of the fossil record as a record of the burial of creatures during Noah's Flood, wherein the creatures dwelling on the seafloor were buried first, then other marine creatures, amphibians, slow-moving reptiles, faster-moving mammals and birds, and finally, humans, the most able to escape the floodwaters the longest.
Evolutionists see the fossil record as a record of the evolution of life on Earth, with the oldest fossils, those of the earliest and simplest creatures, being at the base of the fossil record, and more recent and more advanced creatures higher up.
Dating fossils
Fossils are usually not able to be directly dated by any radiometric dating method. Carbon dating can only be used if carbon remains, which is not the case with most fossils. Most other dating methods work on volcanic rock, whereas most fossils are contained in sedimentary rock.
Instead, fossils are often dated by evolutionists according to ages that have already been assigned to various rock layers. Radiometric dating may be used to narrow this down, by dating available volcanic layers above and/or below the fossil-containing layer. However, radiometric dating is not a reliable method of dating fossils, and is rejected by creationary scientists.
Organic matter in fossils
Organic matter has been found in some fossils. In 1997 Dr. Mary Schweitzer of Montana State University reported finding red blood cells inside a Tyrannosaurus rex bone.[2] And in 2005 the same scientist reported finding blood vessels that were still "soft and stretchy" in another Tyrannosaurus rex bone claimed to be 65 million years old.[3]
It is well-accepted that biological matter cannot last anything like 65 million years.
Creationists argue that this constitutes evidence that the fossils are not that old.[2][3], whilst evolutionists argue either that this constitutes evidence that it can last that long, or that the apparent blood cells (which passed several tests for blood) were not really blood cells.
See also
Bibliography
- Wieland, Carl, Sensational dinosaur blood report!, Creation 19(4):42–43, September 1997.
- Wieland, Carl, Still soft and stretchy 25th March 2005 (Creation Ministries International).
- Wile, Jay L. Exploring Creation With Biology. Apologia Educational Ministries, Inc. 1998
