Can Bacteria Think?
Experiments show that bacteria can make decisions, such as enduring discomfort to reach food. This intelligence challenges the evolutionary expectation that only higher creatures can think. Instead, it demonstrates that God equips every living thing with what it needs.
Guest (Male): Can bacteria think? Find out next on today's Creation Moment. And now, here's our Creation Moment host, Ian Taylor.
Ian Taylor: It sounds silly to ask whether bacteria can think. However, science has known for over 100 years that the little guys can indeed think.
Experiments in 1883, conducted by Wilhelm Pfeffer, showed that bacteria will swim toward good food, like chicken soup, and away from poisons, such as mop disinfectant. Pfeffer also learned that bacteria can make decisions.
He made sure that his bacteria knew the location of his chicken soup. Then he separated them from it with a mild mixture of disinfectant. He found that the little fellows would swim as fast as they could through the disinfectant to get to the chicken soup. This is the same type of decision-making process you and I go through every day.
We often tolerate the unpleasant to arrive at the pleasant. As a result of this research, scientists today talk about bacteria actually making decisions. These conclusions amaze most people. That's because we've been trained to think of intelligence in an evolutionary context. The higher or more evolved a creature is, the smarter we expect it to be.
If we recognize, as the Bible says, that all life is the product of an intelligent Creator, we should not be surprised to find that intelligence has nothing to do with evolution. Every creature has been given as much intelligence as it needs by a Creator who truly cares for every living creature, even bacteria.
Guest (Male): Interested in reading more about creation science and biblical worldview issues? Visit creationmoments.com for weekly blog posts, articles, and answers to frequently asked questions.
Or call us toll-free at 1-800-42-BIBLE. That's 1-800-422-4253. And be sure to join us next time for another Creation Moment, proclaiming evidence of God's truth.
About Creation Moments
Founded in 1963, Creation Moments remains committed to building up the Church and enlightening the world to the wonders of God's creation. For more than sixty years, this ministry has proclaimed the truth of biblical creation and provided irrefutable evidence that the Bible can be trusted from the very first verse to the last. In addition to its international creation-evangelism and radio outreach, Creation Moments offers hundreds of free resources on the Bible and science at its website: CreationMoments.com.
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About Ian T. Taylor & Jonathan Cotton
Ian T. Taylor
For most people, Ian Taylor will always be the voice of Creation Moments. He was born in the UK and lived in Canada until his passing. We were honored and blessed to have such a wonderful and dedicated creationist as part our ministry for so many years. Even now, his radio broadcast programs endure to reach others with the message about the awesome and intricate creation of an awesome and loving God.
Jonathan Cotton
Jonathan Cotton is a veteran voice artist, Worship Pastor, and former “professional prodigal” rescued from the streets in 1996 by the voice of God the Father. Jonathan pairs decades of refined craft with a passion for discipleship. He and his wife—a Children’s Ministry Director—are raising five children centered on hearing and obeying God's voice. Behind the microphone, Jonathan trusts the Holy Spirit to bridge every cultural divide, guiding listeners past design alone and directly to the caring heart of the Father.
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