Whale Tales | The Institute for Creation Research

 
Whale Tales

In an article on whale evolution (Natural History 5/94) peppered with negative remarks toward creationists, Steven J. Gould of Harvard, perhaps one of the more strident anti-creationists today, stated:

I am absolutely delighted to report that our usually recalcitrant fossil record has come through in exemplary fashion. During the past fifteen years, new discoveries in Africa and Pakistan have added greatly to our paleontological knowledge of the earliest history of whales.

But just five years later, Scientific American (January 1999) reported the discovery of fossilized ankle bones that has “left [whale] researchers even more puzzled than before.” The author of this article states that these bones (found in Pakistan!) “leave researchers wondering where whales came from.”

Compounding the problem is evidence taken from molecules (genetic analysis) that simply doesn’t line up with the fossil evidence (morphology). Evolutionist John Gatesy reports:

The phylogenetic affinities of Cetacea have not been clearly resolved by either molecular or morphological characters. The rapidly growing molecular database should, in theory, complement anatomical evidence from the spectacular fossil discoveries of the past 15 years. Unfortunately, recent phylogenetic analyses show more conflict than compromise between molecules and morphology. “Molecular evidence for the phylogenetic affinities of Cetacea” The Emergence of Whales edited by J.G.M. (Thewissen Plenum Press, N.Y., 1998), p. 63.

Richard Monastersky of Science News (vol. 156) agrees, saying “The war over whales pits the classical techniques of studying bones and flesh against the most modern methods of genetic analysis—two approaches that lead to different versions of the whale’s origin tale.”

While evolutionists struggle to spin their tales of how the whale could have come to be, the creationist can take comfort that all the evidence will continue to support the fact that the whale was designed as a unique creature during day five of creation, just as God told us in Genesis 1.

Cite this article: Frank Sherwin, D.Sc. (Hon.). 2000. Whale Tales. Acts & Facts. 29 (2).

The Latest
CREATION PODCAST
Four Moons That Indicate a Young Universe | The Creation Podcast:...
Earth has one moon, but Jupiter has many! What can we learn from our celestial neighbor's satellites? Do they indicate youth?   Host...

ACTS & FACTS
Creation Kids: Seeds and Sprouts
by Renée Dusseau and Susan Windsor* You're never too young to be a creation scientist and explore our Creator's world. Kids, discover...

APOLOGETICS
Christ’s Creativity in Canyon Critters
Grand Canyon animals display many marvelous traits and behaviors as they live life in that harsh habitat. These canyon creatures succeed thanks to the...

ACTS & FACTS
Standing Against False Science
I’m Michael Stamp, and I’m in my 12th year as an editor at the Institute for Creation Research. It’s always an encouragement to see...

ACTS & FACTS
Oysters and Pre-Flood Longevity
The oyster species Crassostrea virginica, also known as the eastern oyster, is a prized seafood. Research has demonstrated that a fossil version of...

ACTS & FACTS
Galápagos Finches: A Case Study in Evolution or Adaptive Engineering?
A group of birds known as Darwin’s finches live in the Galápagos Islands, which are located in the Pacific Ocean 600 miles west of Ecuador....

ACTS & FACTS
Hot Springs National Park: Hydrothermal Springs Formed By The...
Hot Springs National Park is located about an hour southwest of Little Rock in the folded Ouachita Mountains of central Arkansas. It is the second smallest...

ACTS & FACTS
Why Biology Needs A Theory of Biological Design—Part 2
“Based on a true story” is included by movie producers to add authenticity, importance, and a flair of anticipation. So, my account of how...

NEWS
Marine Fossil Tapeworm Is Still a Tapeworm
The Flood was both sudden and rapid. The burial of creatures—including delicate plants and soft-bodied animals like jellyfish1—occasionally...

CREATION.LIVE PODCAST
Ask, Seek, and Find with Dr. Brown | Creation.Live Podcast: Episode...
What is truth? Is truth absolute? Is it malleable as sensibilities and cultures shift? Hosts Trey and Lauren are joined by Dr. Michael Brown to discuss...