Posted on 11/07/2014 2:43:53 PM PST by Alter Kaker
Researchers report that they've found the missing link between an ancient aquatic predator and its ancestors on land. Ichthyosaurs, the dolphin-like reptiles that lived in the sea during the time of the dinosaurs, evolved from terrestrial creatures that made their way back into the water over time.
But the fossil record for the lineage has been spotty, without a clear link between land-based reptiles and the aquatic ichthyosaurs scientists know came after. Now, researchers report in Nature that they've found that link an amphibious ancestor of the swimming ichthyosaurs named Cartorhynchus lenticarpus.
"Many creationists have tried to portray ichthyosaurs as being contrary to evolution," said lead author Ryosuke Motani, a professor of earth and planetary sciences at the University of California Davis. "We knew based on their bone structure that they were reptiles, and that their ancestors lived on land at some time, but they were fully adapted to life in the water. So creationists would say, well, they couldn't have evolved from those reptiles, because where's the link?"
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
“There is no problem so big it can’t be run away from.”
-—Charlie Brown
I like to go camping by myself fairly often.
At night I’ll find a clearing somewhere and look up at the stars.
I wonder “Surely this can’t just be some accident right here on earth.”
BACK AND FORTH IS THE ANSWER. Life always adapts to the environment it is presented with. Whales ancestors were land dwelling animals and they filled an ecological niche and went back to the sea. I am a Geologist, Pharmacist and a bit of a scientist. I do believe in God and the rocks that I can hold in my hand that show the history of life on our earth. The rocks are not congruent with the teachings of the bible. But the real question is, what parts of the bible are divine and what parts are the writings of man? I do not believe that evolution is counter to the concept of God.
Where all fall short is what happened before the big bang and creation of our universe. Neither science nor theology can answer this question. Scientists (I am one) say the big bang happened and it did. Theologians say God is timeless and that is not congruent with our linear thought process. The point being science says we came from nothing and theology says God is timeless and created the universe from nothing. Neither side can explain why we are here.
I vote for God and the scientist in me says it is not logical. The concept of a universe created from nothing prior to the big bang is equally illogical.
When and if, and it is doubtful, we know when and if time started we will know the answer. It will not happen in my lifetime nor I suspect will it ever be answered.
Why? Every person alive today has mutations -- but most people are capable of reproducing with other humans. Some of those mutations get passed on, some may confer a selective advantage. Genomes evolve over stretches of time -- you never had a modern human hatching out of a dinosaur egg.
I don't claim to have it "all figured out." But evolution isn't everything and it is a proven fact that organisms evolve, and share common descent. How that happens is complicated and definitely not something that we've come close to completely figuring out.
Not really. However I think they pose grave challenges to whoever is prescribing you medication. You really think there are pterodactyls flying over New Guinea? When one shows up in the San Diego zoo I want you to give me a call.
Wrong, wrong and wrong. Next?
That is one ugly reptile!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That picture seems to be Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Dem. US Representative from Florida.
After my initial start at seeing this on my computer screen, I noticed her teeth. Normal human dental formula is 2-1-2-3.meaning on each side (and upper and lower jaws in humans) one has two incisors, one canine, two premolars (which the dentists call bicuspids), and three molars (the last one being the wisdom tooth).
Now look at DWS. She has one incisor on each side, and then immediately a pointed canine. Just behind that canine one can see the first premolar (in this picture). So she seems to have a genetic variation (dental formula 1-1-2-3) which I have seen in only two other people. It seems to be found in eastern Europe. Perhaps this is one of the things which gave rise to the vampire legend.
I someone wanted to start a food fight there could hardly be a better way than that headline.
Um, with all due respect, anyone who believes that any "scientific question" is settled knows squat about how real science works. For example, the question of the nature and details of something as basic as gravity is still not settled.
/sorry, harsh, but that's reality...
More to the point, the second law of thermodynamics only applies to closed systems. The Earth is not a closed system — it receives massive amounts of energy every day from a star approximately 1 Astronomical Unit away.
The one thing I think we can agree on, is that none of us have all the answers.
There is a certain degree of faith required to believe in either evolution as the origin of the human species, or creation to be the origin. I believe that creationists are content to acknowledge this aspect of their beliefs. I don’t believe evolutionists are.
From you comments I believe you are acknowledging that it would be very difficult to produce even the simplest of the building blocks of life from lightening.
If that’s not accurate, it’s not intentional. I don’t have a problem with evolutionists who are frank about it’s gaps too. Hey, if I’m willing to say I don’t have all the answers, I find it refreshing when the other side does as well.
So here we are with competing theories. One is allowed into the school system and the other isn’t.
That seems rather closed minded to me. Many people in this nation believe in creation. Many people believe in evolution. Only one side seems to be terrified of having the other explanation for the origin of man be taught.
Dinosaur eggs = strawman
Since I don’t believe that, I have no clue what you are talking about. I am also aware of Darwin’s Finches as well.
Again, saying something is highly improbable does not equal denial.
God, as the Author or Creation, could have done exactly the same thing. To wit: There is nothing mutually exclusive about God creating the universe including Earth several thousand years ago AND the universe being several billion years old...
Flat earth?
For example, the question of the nature and details of something as basic as gravity is still not settled.
No sane human would deny that gravity exists. Gravitational theory exists to explain how and why it exists. Just like evolution is an observed fact -- and evolutionary theory explains how and why evolution takes place. There's a lot we don't know about how gravity and evolution work, but their existence is not in dispute.
You’ve obviously missed my point. Offspring are not reproductively isolated from their parents’ generation, since evolution is gradual.
Serious inquiry: Can you provide a link to observed speciation? I'm not talking variations within a species, but one species observed evolving into another? That would be VERY interesting to me. Thank you!
Dumb headline. All of the fossils are problems for creationsists.
IMHO, he knows them way better. Even God is bound by law, the Atonement of Jesus Christ shows that even God’s actions have a price. However, given that he seemingly defies our logic by faster than light travel, thought, etc.
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