Unnatural Selection?
Just about every public school textbook includes the example of the peppered moth. The moth is used as a prime example of natural selection. Supposedly, as the trees in the English countryside began to be covered with coal pollution in the mid -1800s, the light-colored tree trunks became darker. The peppered moth exists in two varieties, black and white, and was said to rest on the tree trunks. As the trunks turned black the white variety was more easily seen and picked off by the birds, leaving the black variety to multiply. Students were told this was natural selection.
But since the 1980s, numerous studies of moth populations and how they live have called into question the use of the peppered moth as an example of evolution. Several additional population studies in polluted and unpolluted forests show little correlation between whether there are lighter or darker moths. After pollution control laws went into effect in England, the population of dark moths decreased in the north, but increased in the south! In addition, the nocturnal moths do not rest on the tree trunks during the day but stay hidden under the branches higher in the tree. In the famous photograph shown in every biology textbook - of a pair of moths resting on a tree, the moths were actually glued to the tree trunks to provide the picture!
Let's not give away the treasures of the truth of God's inerrant Word for the false treasure of earthly theories which deny our Creator.
Luke 12:33
"Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.”
Prayer: Thank you, Father, that Your saving Word is trustworthy. Amen.
Ref: Jonathan Wells, Ph.D., “Second Thoughts about Peppered Moths,” Image: Biston betularia (Peppered Moth), Janet Graham, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons.
Mark W. Cadwallader: Just how naturally was the peppered moth selected? Next on today's Creation Moments. And now, here's our Creation Moments host, Ian Taylor.
Ian T. Taylor: Just about every public school biology textbook includes the example of the peppered moth. The moth is used as a prime example of natural selection. Supposedly, as the trees in the English countryside began to be covered with coal pollution in the mid-1800s, the light-colored tree trunks became darker.
The peppered moth exists in two varieties, black and white, and was said to rest on the tree trunks. As the trunks turned black, the white variety was more easily seen and picked off by the birds, leaving the black variety to multiply. Students were told that this was natural selection in action.
But since the 1980s, numerous studies of moth populations and how they live have called the use of the peppered moth as an example of evolution into serious question. Several additional population studies in polluted and unpolluted forests show little correlation between whether there are lighter or darker moths. After pollution control laws went into effect in England, the population of dark moths decreased in the north but increased in the south.
Worst is the fact that these moths do not rest on the tree trunks but remain hidden under the branches higher in the tree. The moths in the famous photograph of a pair of moths resting on a tree trunk shown in every biology textbook were actually glued to the tree trunk to provide the picture. Well, let's not give away the treasures of the truth, God's inerrant Word, for the false treasure of the earthly theories which deny our Creator.
Mark W. Cadwallader: For stunning imagery, reference articles, or to listen to today's Creation Moments again, download the Creation Moments app on your phone or visit creationmoments.com. For additional resources, call us toll-free at 1-800-42-BIBLE.
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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 & Mark W. Cadwallader
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.
Mark W. Cadwallader
Mark is Board Chairman of Creation Moments and has served on the Board since 1996. He holds a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Houston and has worked as an applied materials scientist and engineer in plastics, specialty chemicals, oil additives, and pollution control for over 30 years. Mark credits the ministry for opening his faith as a young man to the unerring credibility of the Bible in all areas including science, and thus helping to transform his life. Mark has published over 100 articles and conference papers in his scientific field of expertise as well as in Creation Science and apologetics. He writes the Creation Moments monthly newsletter as well as most of the blog articles posted on the ministry’s website. He has also authored books, including “Creation Spelled Out for Us All” and “The Beauty of Truth”.
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