HURDLE NUMBER 41. THE IMPOSSIBLE TRANSFORMATIONS HURDLE.
The next quote is from the book Difficulties of The Evolution Theory, by Douglas Dewar (F.Z.S.), published by Edward Arnold, London, 1931, page 61:-
“The gradual transformation of a land animal into a whale or a sea-cow appears to be physically impossible, because the tail could not act as a propeller by vertical motion UNTIL THE PELVIS HAD BEEN SO REDUCED IN SIZE AS TO RENDER LOCOMOTION ON LAND IMPOSSIBLE. - - - - - - The ancestors of these aquatic forms, while yet poor swimmers, were unable to use the hind limbs for locomotion. How could such creatures hold their own in the struggle for existence?”
The next quote is from the book Evolution a Theory in Crisis by Michael Denton (molecular biologist – He was a senior research fellow in the Biochemistry Department at the University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand from 1990 to 2005), published by Adler and Adler, 1986, pages 213 to 216:-
The author discusses the evolution of bats. He argues that there is no feasible way for a non-flying mammal to evolve (by small steps) into a bat. The problem is that the bat wing consists of skin stretched between very elongated digits. Denton tells us:-“We seem to be forced, in trying to envisage bat evolution, to imagine a succession of small mammalian species IN WHICH THE FINGERS GRADUALLY LENGTHENED, RESULTING IN LOSS OF NORMAL FORELIMB FUNCTION, before the necessary development of wings and specialized muscle to sustain powered flight had been obtained.” (My capitals.)
My comment:- Imagine a human being born with a rare mutation giving him fingers FOUR TIMES THE NORMAL LENGTH. His forelimb function would be severely compromised, giving him a competitive DISadvantage and a NEGATIVE survival benefit. He would have difficulty getting food, and difficulty surviving long enough to transmit this mutation to future generations; although IF he could survive and reproduce, his descendants MIGHT possibly shrink in size, grow skin joining the fingers together to form wings, develop strong pectoral muscles, and evolve into human bats. The problem is that THE INITIAL STAGES of the transition from non-flying mammal to bat are SO TOTALLY DISASTROUS TO THE ANIMAL’S SURVIVAL THAT THE LATER STAGES CAN NEVER BE ATTAINED. Bat wings cannot come about by natural selection.
The next quote is from the book Difficulties of The Evolution Theory, by Douglas Dewar (F.Z.S.), published by Edward Arnold, London, 1931, pages 74 to 75:-
“The mammalian - - - - diaphragm, a fibro-muscular partition separating the thoracic and abdominal cavities. Reptiles have no diaphragm, in consequence they do not breathe as mammals do, their thorax is not a closed box, it is not alternatively (ie:- he means – “alternately”) expanded and contracted. Sir Arthur Keith (A leading figure in the study of human fossils, he became President of the Royal Anthropological Institute.) confesses his inability to comprehend how the mammalian diaphragm can have been derived from any reptile.” (Dewar quotes Sir Arthur Keith’s remarks from The Journal of Anatomy and Physiology, 1905, Volume 39, page 261.)
The next quote is from the book Evolution a Theory in Crisis by Michael Denton (molecular biologist – He was a senior research fellow in the Biochemistry Department at the University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand from 1990 to 2005), published by Adler and Adler, 1986, pages 228 to 229:-
Denton quotes Stephen Jay Gould (Professor of Zoology at Harvard University) – “Can we invent a reasonable sequence of intermediate forms - - - that is, viable, functioning organisms – between ancestors and descendants in major structural transitions? I SUBMIT - - - - THAT THE ANSWER IS NO - - - ” (My capitals.)
My comment:- Stephen Jay Gould is an important figure in evolutionary biology. His opinion carries very considerable weight. He is making a damning statement here. What he is effectively saying is that EVOLUTION CANNOT HAPPEN! There is no other way to interpret his words.
On page 229 of the same book, Denton quotes Scottish zoologist D’Arcy Thompson (Professor of Biology (later Natural History) at University College, Dundee.):- “We cannot transform an invertebrate into a vertebrate - - - - by any simple legitimate deformation - - - - In natural history, Cuvier’s “types” may not be perfectly chosen, but types they are; and TO SEEK FOR STEPPING STONES ACROSS THE GAPS BETWEEN THEM IS TO SEEK FOREVER.” (My capitals.)
The next quote is from the book Hen’s Teeth and Horses Toes, by Stephen Jay Gould (Professor of Zoology at Harvard University), published by Penguin Books, reprint, 1986, Page 181:-
“The fossil record rarely records smooth transitions, and IT IS OFTEN DIFFICULT TO IMAGINE A FUNCTION FOR HYPOTHETICAL INTERMEDIATES BETWEEN ANCESTORS AND THEIR HIGHLY MODIFIED DESCENDANTS.” (My capitals.)
The next quote is from the book Difficulties of The Evolution Theory, by Douglas Dewar (F.Z.S.), published by Edward Arnold, London, 1931, pages 78 to 79:-
“Not only does the doctrine of evolution seem to postulate IMPOSSIBLE TRANSFORMATIONS, but creatures, while undergoing these supposed transformations, being peculiarly ill-fitted to maintain themselves in the struggle for existence, SHOULD HAVE BEEN SPEEDILY EXTERMINATED BY NATURAL SELECTION.” (My capitals.)
The next quote is from the book Why Us. How Science rediscovered The Mystery of Ourselves, by James Le Fanu (Medical doctor), published by Harper Press, 2009, pages 50 to 60:-
The author discusses the transition from quadrupedal gait to bipedal gait. (Apes walk on FOUR legs, and humans walk on TWO legs.) He refers to “The prodigious difficulties of this novel form of locomotion” (ie:- walking on TWO legs.) He then lists the required changes to enable the bipedal gait:- Much larger gluteus maximus, and redesign of several other muscles. Redesign of pelvis. Repositioning of skull. Vertebrae must become wider. Head of femur must be angled inwards. Knee ligaments must be strengthened. The foot requires a dozen anatomical changes. Legs must be lengthened. Rewiring of nervous system.
The author then comments:- “THE PROFOUND INSTABILITY OF ANY TRANSITIONAL SPECIES that without this full house of anatomical changes would have had a stuttering, shuffling gait – VULNERABLE TO ANY HUNGRY CARNIVORE. - - - - - The upright stance is - - - difficult to pull off - - - require a SUDDEN - - - wholesale redesign that is CLEARLY INCOMPATIBLE WITH DARWIN’S PROPOSED MECHANISM OF A GRADUALISTIC EVOLUTIONARY TRANSFORMATION.” (My capitals and highlighting.)